As we hit the Holiday season, every leader has a wish list.
Well, maybe it should be called a “needs” list.
Do you remember January 1 of this past year?
Do you remember the 6-8 weeks prior to the beginning of this year? During the time when you were planning, and budgeting for the New Year. Do you remember how excited you were as you dreamed and formulated the New Directions for the year ahead?
Well, the seasons passed and now it is December, time to reflect on these three questions:
1. How did I do?
2. Who is “on -board”?
3. What’s next?
The Six Things Every Leader Should Think About Before the New Year
- Followers
- A Vision to Follow
- Someone you are following
- A Plan to Implement
- A system to monitor your progress
- Encouragement
Followers
Who are they? Are they “on board”? Did I lose any of them? Why? How will I connect with them on a “go forward” basis? Are there any that I either need to get off the train, or to put in another seat on the train?
A Vision to Follow
Is my vision still relevant? Is it worth following? How can I describe it better? In a clearer or more challenging way? Can my followers still connect with the vision? Does it energize them?
Someone Else to Follow
Am I connected to others who can monitor and encourage me? Someone who gives me unbiased personal feedback? Identified others worth modeling? Am I accountable? and to who? How open am I to “constructive input”? Am I still flexible and willing to change? (regardless of age)
A Plan to Implement
Do I really have a plan, or just a vision without a clear way to implement it? Are my followers clear about the plan? Their role in the plan? and the way it will benefit them when accomplished?
A System to Measure Your Progress
Do i have a “dashboard” of critical variables that I review regularly? Metrics that indicate results? Measurements that highlight the variables that cause growth, or progress towards the vision? A way to keep the vision in front of you, rather than seen through the rear view mirror?
Encouragement
It is critical to both be encouraged and to encourage your staff or followers? What is keeping you energized and moving towards the vision, towards the goal? What is keeping your staff, followers, energized and moving toward the vision, towards the goal?
Because American Thanksgiving is just past, most of us are thankful and encouraged by the activities of this year, the results that prompt us to “fall forward” and the relationships that both sustain and challenge us.
Reflect and then seek that renewed vision for the coming year--that vision that challenges you personally, your organization and your relationships.
If you have a reflection or story to share, please do.
Use our eBook, Live with Meaning as a prompt to your thinking and visioning for the New Year.
Share your Trusted Advice as we journey with Trusted Advice along The Way.
Bruce Bruinsma