When there is a deluge of information filtering in and out of your company on a daily basis, it is very easy to focus on what isn’t going right compared to what is. In order for your company to continue to expand and grow, focusing on your successes is exactly what you need. With 2014 coming to a close, WorkSource Staffing has a few tips to help you evaluate what went right and how to stay on track for the next year.
Review the past year’s goals
Every year you set up goals that should be or need to be accomplished. Whether it’s picking up new contracts, work orders, marketing, HR practices, team dynamics or company expansion, your goals should be tailored around the SMART goal system—Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Realistic, and Time-Based. In order to focus on the successes, look at strengths relied on to accomplish goals, how your teams succeeded through challenging situations, and what synchronicities assisted you or your teams. While not all goals may have gotten accomplished or there may have been certain areas you wish had gone better, being able to compile a list of what did get accomplished will help you strengthen tracking and goals for the next year.
Goals Are Only Part of the Equation
So, you have SMART goals that were put into place for 2014 and after review, you feel that your team or company has faired well overall. This is a good start! However, did you know that setting goals for the year is only one ingredient in the recipe for success? Goals can’t be accomplished if systems aren’t in place to help them along. For example, an entrepreneur wants to build a million dollar business within the next two years. The system that supports this goal is sales and marketing. Evaluating the systems that support your company goals gives you great feedback as to what has worked and what hasn’t. It is also a great way to shift the focus to how well the goal was accomplished. Many research studies are finding that when businesses focus more on the system of implementation rather than on the goal itself, they are more likely to succeed. When you focus on the practice instead of the end-game, you can enjoy the process and improve the company mission at the same time.
Reward Team Successes
As you look back at your company’s year, remember to not only highlight successes but to reward those successes. This does not mean giving promotions to individuals per say, but letting your teams know that their hard work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Allow for an end of the year party, holiday gathering, free jeans day or mini on-site massages to say thank you to your teams. If you want to show your thanks through monetary rewards, you could offer bonuses or simply invest in new equipment that will make your workers jobs that much easier. Another popular item for management is the use of bikes for employees. More companies are investing in bike paths and promoting exercise to their employees. This not only relieves stress, but gets your employees out in the fresh air, rejuvenating the senses and by extension their energy to be productive.
WorkSource is a premier staffing agency where quality and service are our focus. Contact our team and learn how we can assist you with your 2015 goals.