Q1: Ready? Here We Go!

The holidays were great, but now the Christmas tree has been sent back to the storage room and the glitter and tinsel have been packed away until next year. 2019 is here and it’s time to get it started. The first quarter of the year is a great time to open strong and set the stage for a dynamic year. In order to make that happen, here are a few things you’ll need to do.

Set the direction for your business.

If you’ve been working on your business plan, you already have an idea of where you’ll need to go and what your priorities should be.  You’ll know where you did well in the past year and what areas need to be improved. And you’ll have a good idea of where the best opportunities for growth will come from and what factors may pose a challenge.

Now is the time to share that vision.

Check in with your team, review last year's results and set expectations. These are all powerful ways to make sure you're headed in the best possible direction. Let everyone know what your goals are for the coming year and how you’re going to reach them. Get everyone on the same page.

Of course, you could just have a normal business meeting to discuss these issues, but why not keep the holiday spirit going a little longer? That’s right, start the new year off with a kick-off party. The weather is gloomy enough outside, and no one likes a boring meeting. Make yours fun and exciting. It will get both you and your staff fired up, and just as importantly it will be memorable. In addition, you may be adding new members to your team or working with new vendors, so a kick-off party gives everyone a chance to get to know each other and builds that all-important team chemistry.

Make sure to include measurable goals.

If it’s important, try to put a number on it, so everyone knows what they’re shooting for. Do you want a 25 percent increase in sales over the previous year? Do you want to maximize your ROI on a certain project? Prioritize it by giving it a number. Be sure to delegate tasks and assign goals for those tasks. It’s always better to set clear expectations and direction at the beginning.

A new year is a time for renewal.

It’s a time to put the past behind and focus on the future. Now is the time to lay the foundations for a great year ahead, so go out and make it happen!