OK, team. It’s time to make a plan to close out this year on a high note in anticipation of great success in 2017.
2016 has been a roller coaster year of distractions, emotions, disagreements, many of which occurred within your business. Yes, there were also many successes for which we celebrate.
As in any race, no matter the disruptions along the way, you put focus into the last few laps or miles to finish strong, better than ever before. The same is true for the month of December.
What does this mean to you?
In sales, it means closing those deals and enhancing your pipeline for next year. In services, it means inspiring year-end communication with clients.
In retail, you retailers know exactly what this means—no matter how tired or cranky you or your customers are, you provide the best imaginable atmosphere for customers to make their important purchases. Your competitors may have messy, understaffed, websites and stores but not you.
The key to Year-End success is to set a plan to close out and clean up in order to move on to a phenomenal 2017. Here are my suggestions:
Start with your overall vision for your anticipated 2017 accomplishments. Take time to answer these questions.
What worked best for you in 2016?
What didn’t work and needs to be eliminated?
What needs to be strengthened in the New Year?
What is the best possible outcome for 2017?
Keep these answers in mind as you progress through the next stages of your plan to close out 2016.
Close out. If you’re not in retail, you have the luxury of time to sort through unfinished projects.
Which projects need more work prior to year end? Close them out.
Which projects are complete but still in front of you? Find a new home.
Which will continue into the New Year and if so, in what capacity?
Which will you now abandon? Not all great ideas stand the test of time.
Clean up. We all have files, papers, publications that we’ll never get to. Don’t drag them into 2017.
Come in early one morning, before anyone else, and dig in.
Set a time limit of 2-4 hours with 45 minute standup breaks and no email or interruptions.
Have new files along with recycle and trash bins available.
Eliminate anything that will not serve you in creating great success in 2017.
Prepare and move on.
What will you change to create greater success in 2017? About yourself? Your work strategy or environment?
How will you be different? More decisive or discerning about what you take on, with whom you associate? Enhanced clients or associates who are more reflective of where you’re headed?
What time wasters will you eliminate in order to create space for what’s truly important?
Time is our most precious commodity. We have too much clutter in our offices, lives and minds.
In making a plan to accomplish these steps you are creating valuable time for which to create precisely what you want to accomplish in the New Year.
My challenge to you is to make this plan, for yourself and organization, to close out this year strong and on a high note. Eliminate anything that stands in your way of ultimate success in 2017.
In doing so you are setting yourself up for a truly enjoyable and achievable stellar New Year.
Master Executive & Leadership Coach Ann Golden Eglé, MCC, has steered highly-successful individuals to greater results since 1998. President of Golden Visions & Associates, LLC, Ann can be reached at 541-385-8887 or subscribe to her newsletter at www.GVAsuccess.com.
