Five New Year’s Resolutions for Great Business Leaders

The New Year is quickly approaching—the traditional time to reflect on the past year and think about the future. What were our greatest successes in 2015? What could we have done better? What do we want to accomplish in 2016? We all try to make New Year’s resolutions and stick with them, but they often fall by the wayside. Here are five practical, achievable resolutions to consider for 2016 (and beyond).

1. Practice what you preach.
   In the New Year, make a plan to really be the leader that people want to follow. If you say one thing and do another, it diminishes your credibility and makes your followers nervous about trusting your judgement. Whatever kind of leader you decide to embody, stay consistent in what you say and do.
2. Invest in your staff’s careers.
   As a younger crowd enters the workforce, they look for a position that will better themselves as an individual and further their aspirations. Take advantage of this quality and foster their need for growth. Whether it is through career development programs or a mentoring program from senior staff members, look for ways to unleash their potential. By providing this opportunity to your staff, it shows you have a personal interest in the employee they’re trying to become.
3. Open up to new ideas.
   As the old adage goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Neither were most great companies. Understand that each idea (no matter how small or unrealistic) expressed by your staff shows that they consider themselves part of your team and want the business to grow too. Try to be open to suggestions and if it isn’t the direction you’re headed, explain your position and build from there.
4. Loosen the reins.
   This one goes hand-in-hand with resolution No. 3. Sometimes the best way to come up with new ideas of your own is to let go of the daily operational reins and let your trusted staff drive for a while. You may find that some people really come alive when granted increased responsibility and become ever more vested in the company and its success, leaving you time to look around at the company with a little bit of distance and a fresh perspective.
5. Learn something new.
   While it can seem like there’s not enough time in a day to get everything done, learning something entirely new can have a tremendous positive impact. For example, recent MRI studies show that learning a new language can actually increase the size of your brain (if you’re going to DRUPA in 2016, consider learning some German!) Other studies show that learning a brand new skill strengthens entire networks in the brain. So take a class, learn a new skill and you may just power up some new ideas to help grow your business!

As 2015 draws to a close, we wish you, your family, and your business a happy and prosperous 2016! Why not join us and other print leaders in Palm Desert, CA, March 6-9 for the 2016 President’s Conference? Early-bird rates expire on Jan. 29, so sign up now at www.printing.org/presidentsconference.

Source: Printing Industries of America.