So how are you doing with New Year’s resolutions for your business?

So how are you doing with New Year’s resolutions for your business? Even if your personal resolutions are already by the wayside, you should develop and stick with a few simple organization tips for your business. Resolutions build clear, measurable objectives and goals into your business plan for 2020 and help you get on – and stay on – track – this year. When you make resolutions a part of your business operations and work on them with your staff, you’re much more likely to attain them. Even one person shops should write down (not typing into a computer, mind you) their goals and tell your partner, your parakeet or the office kitty cat.

As you might expect, most work-related resolutions focus on getting better organized – a sore point for businesses of any size. Remember that time you had to find that hard copy of that letter or your meeting notes? It happens to me more frequently than I care to admit: the receipt for the one item that cannot be returned without it, disappears forever. And I swear I just had it in my wallet. If you can set up a simple asset tracking and management system, and stick to it, you will save yourself huge headaches this year and every year.

So where do you start to write up a couple New Year’s resolutions for your business before? Here are a few suggestions. Start with a couple and get started with those. Let them jumpstart your year, give you a sense of direction and accomplishment. You can always add additional points each quarter.

Declutter Your Desk
A messy desk is the sign of an active mind, right? Sorry but no. Getting and keeping your desk organized saves you a significant chunk of time in hunting through documents, sticky notes, phone messages and pens that don’t write any more. Set up a system where every item has a place, including labels, folders, bins and trays. Adopt a “touch it once” discipline and become the role model. Pick up a document or project, act on it (delegate if appropriate), and then move on. Same with emails and appointments. Act on something immediately and then it’s off your desk and back into the process flow. It also takes a huge burden off your shoulders.

Check Your Assets
If you haven’t done an inventory of what you own and where those items are located in the last year, now is a great time to do that as well. Split the task among staff members, if possible, so the whole thing is not one person’s responsibility. Maybe knock off early one afternoon, order pizza and beverages, turn up the music and get everyone working on it together. You also need to know the condition of what you own and what you lease or rent. Look online for easy asset management and inventory worksheets to get you started. Knowing what you have (and what might need to be replaced or upgraded) gives you a feeling of control over your business. There are also a number of maintenance tracking software packages available that can help you track maintenance schedules, plan for equipment failures or obsolescence and keep your technology up to date so your business runs efficiently.

Plan Now for Year End
Setting these controls up now helps you when next December rolls around and you want to look back at the year. Work with your accounting person, CPA or department head to review your budget frequently and update staff on decisions and process changes. What got you here won’t keep you here, so you must keep your eye out for changes in the business environment, customer industries and your industry. Your business is only as adaptable as your ability to sense change and flex as necessary. Also encourage your staff to alert you to changes in the business as they experience them. 

Walk Away
Make a list of what didn’t work for you and your company last year and give those up as soon as possible. What projects or distractions kept you and your staff from accomplishing greater things last year? Not everything you or they try is a home run. Do a quick inventory and as objectively as possible, check to see if you are delegating enough? Are you empowering your employees or are they feeling micromanaged? Just as in prior years, not everything will be a wild success. Keep notes, keep your cool and give yourself and your company points for trying. The main thing is to keep trying and figuring out what works and takes your business to the next level. 

While reflecting on your business should happen more than once a year, it is especially important now as we all take a collective breath and tackle a new year and a new decade. Make the coming year the very best it can be for your business!

Build Momentum
Start with the easiest things and tasks to organize and allow yourself to feel the personal satisfaction that brings. On your To Do list, include something each week that moves your organization just one more small step forward. With those small efforts, you’ll find more efficiency and productivity for yourself and your team. Give it a try this year and see how much easier your personal and professional operations move forward.