As we settle into another new year, it’s easy to fall victim to the annual resolution rut. Declaring that you’ll lose the weight, vowing to be a more charitable person, or resolving to take up a new hobby start out as good-natured commitments, but generally fall to the wayside near the end of January.
With such little resilience, it might seem silly to consider a new year’s resolution for your business; however, setting small goals with varying measures of success might make the effort more sustainable.
While purging files and reconciling balance sheets are important for any business, delving deeper into what makes your company tick might yield the most beneficial result. John Jantsch, of Duct Tape Marketing, recently blogged about the importance of shared culture in the workplace. While the concept seems simple enough, try to think of the last time you really engaged in conversation about what your company stands for with your employees or co-workers. It may not be realistic to have a daily philosophical conversation about the direction in which your business is headed, but the benefits of knowing that everyone is on the same page and has a unified commitment to the company, its purpose, and where its headed, is truly invaluable.
Once you know that your team is focused and committed, the next plan of action might be to reconnect with your vendors, office neighbors, and business contacts. While the bottle of wine you sent over the holidays was a thoughtful gesture, now is the time to connect on a more purposeful level. Every business relationship we have is mutually beneficial in one way or another. Perhaps a call to your office supply contact is all that is needed to ask about useful new products and discounts on orders. Or determine the areas where your business could use a boost and scroll through your contacts to see who could be of help. Maybe head up to the CPA’s office on the next floor and chat about potential tax breaks for a company like yours. If that seems too “taxing “, why not attend an industry networking event? Chances are your expertise will be just as beneficial to someone else!
The personal and professional momentum created from employing these tactics can only grow as you add to your list of productive business resolutions. Perhaps your new found dedication to your company will help keep your personal resolutions afloat as well!
David Allen, author of Getting Things Done, shares his reflections and tips for a successful year. What are some of your business resolutions for 2012? If you need to control costs or simply upgrade from your home office, The Suites Collection can help your business accelerate with cost effective solutions for officing and conferencing. Contact us for a tour of our three, conveniently located business centers in Chicago’s loop or River North.
