Planning for success at the start of a new year involves a combination of strategic thinking, goal-setting, and effective communication. Here are key steps Riverbend recommends you take to lay a solid foundation and foster a positive goal-oriented work environment.
- Prioritize and Delegate – Identify key priorities and allocate resources accordingly. Delegation is crucial to ensure that tasks are distributed effectively and that team members are empowered to take ownership of their responsibilities.
In our Delegation: The Art of Monkey Management™ workshop we break down the different tasks you are holding onto. The “monkey” is the task before you. The task (monkey) either belongs to you, does not belong to you, or it no longer serves purpose. By recognizing these types of monkeys, the RIGHT things get done, the RIGHT way, by the RIGHT people.
- Encourage Innovation – Foster a culture of innovation within the organization. Encourage team members to share ideas and contribute to creative solutions. This can lead to improved processes and products.
How can you do this? Allocate time for creativity. Dedicate specific time for you or your team to work on an innovative project or explore a new idea. Google’s “20% time” rule is a prime example of this idea. Google’s “20% time” is a policy that allows employees to spend 20% of their working hours on projects that interest them and are outside their normal job responsibilities. This policy promotes creativity and culture.
At one of our recent workshops in Chicago, we ignited a spark of ingenuity within a team, encouraging them to innovate, elevate their strategies, and in turn, dominate their industry. We developed a curated set of exercises that assisted the team in breaking away from their typical ways of thinking. Riverbend content includes both individual and team exercises, recognizing that innovation extends not only to one’s career but also to their personal life.
- Communicate Effectively – Maintain transparent and open communication with the team. Clearly communicate the organizational goals, expectations, and any changes in strategy. Address concerns and provide feedback.
A key to communicating more effectively is understanding your own communication style, recognizing the other person’s style, and identifying where the gap exists. When you work to close the gap in communication styles, it:
- Minimizes misinterpretation and miscommunication. When your approach tunes in (versus tunes out), it creates clarity and space in the conversation that leads to better outcomes.
- Builds rapport and trust. It shows you respect their preferences and are willing to engage in a way that suits them.
- Resolves conflict. When you choose language that supports their style, it’s easier to find common ground.
The LIFO® method is a practical application of behavioral science that provides strategies for promoting individual and group productivity. It helps discover our strengths based on your behavioral preference of how to think, how to get things done and how to deliver information. It does not label people or put them in a box. Find out more about our LIFO® Results-Centered Communication workshop by booking a discovery call.
- Enhance Team Skills – Asses the skill sets within the team and identify areas for improvement. Invest in training and development programs to enhance the capabilities of team members.
In this ever-changing business landscape, it is crucial you take time to invest in your people, so they feel inspired and equipped. It’s a reciprocal relationship where the organization benefits from the enhanced skills and capabilities of its leaders, and the leaders feel valued and supported as humans.
We stand ready to partner with you and your team this year. Whether it be providing support in planning a large sales meeting, creating an epic experiential learning, or ensuring your team is well-equipped through workshop learning, we look forward to the inspiration and enrichment that the year has in store!