Now that we have escaped the dark prediction of the Mayans, we have another 'END' to contend with; the end of the year! In one week, we will say goodbye to 2012 and welcome a New Year. In other words, we have 7 days to tie up the last 365!
Here are 5 steps to help you HANDLE THE END:
1- TIDY UP YOUR 'END OF YEAR' GOALS
It is AMAZING what you can accomplish when the timeline is short! With one week left in 2012, take a look at what your goals were and tackle the ones that can be completed within the next 7days. It may not be easy, but a dedicated team of professionals can move mountains when they put their minds to it. The added benefit of closing out the year strong is making the move into the New Year even easier!
2- ASSESS 2012 (PROS & CONS)
Be sure to take the necessary time to identify your hits and your misses. Knowing what went well, and what areas need improvement, can really set you up for success in the New Year. If you walk into the New Year and you really do not know what went right or wrong, you are walking blindly into your future. Shine some light on the situation by identifying the pros and cons of the past year.
3- MEET WITH YOUR TEAM
Every successful company has a team- whether it is one person or many. Meeting with your team at this time of year can have lots of benefits. Sharing your 2012 assessments will build strength and confidence within your team. Knowing where a company stands and what the accomplishments of the past year have been, tend to bring a team together. Imagine each member of your team thinking about how they can affect change in the New Year. With everyone on board and ready for a New Year- things are sure to move in the right direction!
4- SET YOUR NEW YEAR GOALS
Starting a professional sporting event without a game plan can lead to disaster. The same thing is true of businesses and New Years! So as 2012 winds down to a close, be sure to spend some time evaluating where your company is now and what you want to happen in 2013. Setting some SMART goals for your company can really get your entire team off to a GREAT START!
S- Specific M- Measurable A- Achievable R- Realistic T- Time Frame/Deadline (Smart goals get DONE!)
5- CELEBRATE THE PAST AND THE PRESENT TO PREPARE FOR THE FUTURE
For many busy business owners, this step tends to be a tough one. Taking the time to celebrate your victories is an essential part of moving into a New Year. When we do not take the time to recognize our achievements, we minimize them and we subconsciously tell ourselves they were not important. When we do not take the time to celebrate exactly where we are (until I learned this lesson I was always comparing where we were as a company to where we could be), we do not honor our personal efforts and those of our team. So use the strike of midnight and the beginning of a New Year to celebrate your achievements and where you find yourself right now.
We have 1 week! No deadly predictions and no reasons not to head into 2013 stronger than ever!
