Monday, December 11, 2017

Planning for the New Year

With the holiday season happening all around us, we as leaders and managers can get pretty busy trying to complete all of the end of quarter projects and reports plus stay on top of all of the family events and traditions. The days fly by and then sooner than we think it will be 2018. And with the new year will come a new list!

However, before another day goes by, stop for a moment, and reflect on the following questions: 

What went right this year?

Where did your team show progress?

Who stepped up and embraced the mission, vision and core values of the company?

What were the major lessons learned this year for you and your team?

Did you become a better leader?

In the rush to get it all done, reflection often takes a back seat. Given the many challenges that have taken place this year, maybe we need to pull over the proverbial car and pause at the nearest rest stop. Then, get out of the car, stretch our legs and look beyond the hustle and bustle of the moment. We need to reflect on the year and then share these reflections with others. In this way, we are building on the lessons learned rather than repeating the same mistakes of 2017.

This week, schedule an hour, and step away from the piles of work and e-mail. Sit down with a good cup of coffee or tea, and a pad of paper. Then, write down the answers to the above questions. It will be worth the time and the effort. Planing always works best from a place of clarity rather than a place of rushing around.

Geery Howe, M.A. Consultant, Executive Coach, Trainer in Leadership, Strategic Planning and Organizational Change Morning Star Associates 319 - 643 - 2257

No comments:

Post a Comment