John Lowe is an Executive Faculty, Coach and Business Presentations Expert at Ty Boyd, Inc.
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As we approach a new year, I thought it would be helpful to share my suggestions for leadership resolutions to make the coming year more successful. In my coaching with professionals in leadership positions, I always use the approaching new year as an opportunity to have my clients reflect and reevaluate their leadership strategies. Here are some of the resolutions we often discuss:
1. Commit to really getting to know your direct reports. Of course, most people know those who report to them. But how well do you really know them? You should get to know their personal side, their family and their outside interests. Make sure you have on your calendar their birthday, and those of their spouse/partner and kids if any. Perhaps most importantly, know what truly motivates them to be the best they can be.
2. Place a renewed emphasis on the success plan for each of your people. In a previous article, I discussed replacing performance reviews with success plans. Make sure you have a committed date on your new year calendar for this plan discussion with each member of your team.
3. Pledge to never have an internal meeting that does not have meaning for every person attending. Make sure you take time to prepare for every meeting, so you can deliver the most value, and do not invite anyone who does not have a vested interest in the agenda. You never want to have a meeting that attendees felt was a waste of their time.
4. Place equal emphasis on leading your people versus managing the business. I find the day-to-day requirements of managing the business often drown out the focus on leading people. I ask each of my clients to take time at the beginning of every week to write down at least one thing they will do that week that will directly help each of their team members.
5. Make sure your people use all of their allotted vacation time. Work-life balance is extremely important, and people (especially high achievers) will often overlook taking time off in their pursuit of success. It is part of the leadership role to help your people take care of themselves. (The same goes for you, by the way!)
6. Encourage your team to take time to contribute to something outside of work. It may be a charity, nonprofit, community organization, or a youth sports team—wherever their interests lie, give them time off to be involved. When they take pride in contributing to society, it will reflect on their work in a positive manner.
7. Involve your team members in planning and strategy development. I find people in leadership positions may be reluctant to share the decision-making process because they are ultimately responsible for the success of the business. However, team members are much more enthusiastic and committed to the success of a plan they feel ownership over. It also helps develop their own leadership and problem-solving skills.
8. Be more mindful of giving your full attention to those at home when you are home. Of course, there are times when work requirements bleed over into your time at home. That should be the exception, not the rule. For the benefit and well-being of yourself and those in your immediate circle, make every effort to keep your personal time sacred.
9. Last, but certainly not least, remind yourself constantly that it is not about you. Managers of the business think about how their decisions will affect them. Leaders focus on their people, and when their people are happy, productive and successful, the success of that leader takes care of itself.
As you develop your own leadership resolution list, I encourage you to consider these as topics of reflection and use the commencement of a new year as an opportunity to recommit to enhancing your own leadership capabilities.
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