Whether it’s to be a kinder person or to loss weight, just about everyone makes personal New Year’s resolutions. But what about your business? The start of a new year is the perfect time to review the previous year’s wins and fails and to think about improvements and goals for the one ahead.
With this in mind, we scoured the internet for some of the best business New Year’s resolutions you can add to your list. Here are a few we enjoyed:
Make business planning a weekly event: About.com’s Small Business: Canada section compiled a list of 10 business resolution. In it was this gem about planning. “Planning is vital if you want a healthy, growing business. Business planning lets you take stock of what worked and what didn’t work, and helps you set new directions or adjust old goals. So why do it just once a year or once a quarter? Set aside time each week to review, adjust, and look forward – or even better, make business planning a part of each day. Not only will this help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on track, but you’ll feel more focused and relaxed.”
Get over operational inefficiency: MyCity4Her subscriber Carol Coughlin of BottomLine Growth Strategies posted a great article on the top 3 New Year’s resolutions for businesses and one of them was all about operational inefficiency. “Resolve to make 2013 the year you take a hard look at People, Processes and Systems and make needed adjustments. While this will require some difficult decisions (most likely around the people aspect of your company), you’re not doing anyone any favors by limiting the growth of your business.” Carol says to make staffing decisions based on need and not loyalty, review processes and ensure business systems are providing accurate decision-making data.
Put time for you on the calendar. The article was published in 2011 but Mashable’s tip on creating time for yourself is still relevant today. “As an entrepreneur, remember that you’re solely responsible for your own motivation, productivity and well-being. There’s no boss to pat you on the back or give you a raise. It’s up to you to keep yourself motivated and inspired.” Mashable says to reward yourself with a little you time for specific milestones like closing a big sale or meeting a tough deadline.