Planning for Success: Key Areas to Focus on for the New Year
As we approach a new year, it’s crucial to start planning early rather than waiting until the last minute. There are three essential areas to focus on when preparing for growth and success in the coming year.
Why is System Assessment Important for Growth?
Your systems are perfectly designed for the results you’re currently getting. If you want different results, you need to examine and adjust your systems. When evaluating systems, look for three key areas:
1. What’s Bent?
These are systems that are starting to show strain but aren’t broken yet. They’re flexing under pressure and need attention before they break. Look for pressure points and make adjustments early.
2. What’s Bottlenecked?
Identify where things are getting stuck or slowing down. Often, bottlenecks occur when too many decisions require top-level approval. Consider empowering team members with more decision-making authority.
3. What’s Broken?
Some systems simply don’t work anymore and need complete replacement. Don’t be afraid to innovate and try new approaches. Remember to build systems for where you’re going, not where you are.
How Do You Optimize Your Team Structure?
Using Jim Collins’ “bus” concept, consider rotating team members to different positions. Sometimes people are valuable team members but sitting in the wrong seat. Key considerations include:
- Conducting passion assessments to determine where team members might be more effective
- Performing culture assessments to ensure team fit
- Being willing to make necessary changes, including removing toxic team members
- Defining and communicating organizational culture clearly
Why is Building and Expanding Your Team Critical?
Focus on both bringing in new people and developing existing team members:
- Create clear pathways for new people to join your organization
- Invest in training and development for current team members
- Build healthy team environments that naturally attract others
- Maintain ongoing leadership development programs
Life Application
This week, take these steps to prepare for the new year:
- Identify one system in your organization that needs attention
- Have honest conversations with team members about their roles and passions
- Create a specific plan for team development in the coming year
Ask yourself:
- What systems in my organization are showing signs of strain?
- Are my team members in positions that maximize their strengths and passions?
- How am I investing in both new and existing team members?
- What specific changes do I need to make to achieve better results next year?
Remember, successful planning isn’t just about setting goals – it’s about making the necessary adjustments to achieve them. Start now to position yourself and your organization for growth in the coming year.
