2014 is fast approaching! Each year, employers set company-wide goals aimed toward helping the business prosper financially. Your annual goals also help your business stay aligned with its mission and vision. What were your goals for 2013 and how close are you to achieving them? As the year draws to a close, take a step back to review. You may be able to make one final effort that helps you finish out 2013 with a bang.
Follow these four steps to successfully round out 2013 and stride toward 2014, fresh and ready:
- Review your annual goals.
To achieve goals, it’s important that they are clearly defined. Also, you’ll need to break them down into monthly or weekly tasks. It’s possible that you’ve already accomplished many of the things you planned for the company this year, and you can feel good about that. Review each unfinished goal to ensure it is clearly defined, with specific action steps. Perhaps staff members who were key players in the accomplishment of the goal have since moved on from the company. Make sure you’ve assigned the right people to the right tasks. After your goals are refreshed, you’ll be ready to achieve them in 2014. - Follow up with other departments.
Were you waiting on feedback or information from another department that is imperative in the accomplishment of an annual goal? It’s possible an action step has become stalled along the way. Follow up with other department heads regarding progress of specific steps. Also, have you made commitments to other departments that you may have overlooked as the year got busy? Double check with Human Resources, Information Technology or Marketing, for example. Uphold your commitments and end the year with a feeling of good will. - Push for the completion of almost-complete goals.
After reviewing your annual goals, you may have found that some can’t be accomplished in four weeks, and that’s OK. However, if you have identified goals that are close to complete, push them forward during this last month. Brainstorm with the team involved, discuss the time frame and determine what needs to be accomplished to achieve the goal prior to 2014. Meet with the team regularly to review progress and build motivation. If appropriate, consider offering incentives to team members for their hard work. This may help to drive the project forward.
As you review your plans for 2014, consider your staffing needs. Snelling Georgia can provide direct hire, temporary-to-permanent and customized staffing services for a variety of occupations. To learn more, please contact us today at 770-414-9071.
