When it comes to setting business goals at the start of a New Year, Charles Pludthura suggests you make them achievable and realistic. Here are some ideas to get you started.
It’s a fresh new year. What better time to take a look at your business, set some achievable goals and set yourself up for success in 2012?
Go for a run every morning. Stop eating chocolate. Prunes for breakfast.
Personal New Year’s resolutions are often unrealistic and often lose their appeal during February!
When it comes to business resolutions though, you need to think hard about what’s achievable and how to make it happen. A set of carefully considered goals can be your blueprint for the year and help take your business from strength to strength.
But where to start? Here are some suggestions to help you get going.
Don’t be a stranger to your customers. The beginning of a new year is the perfect time to revisit customer relationships. Ask your customers how you’re doing and how you might make improvements. Ask for honest feedback and don’t take it too personally. Just promise yourself you’ll strive to improve.
Look after your staff. Nurturing talent and staff welfare has fast become a ‘hot topic’ for all organisations, with many looking to improve internal collaboration. Make 2012 the year you stay on top of your HR, employment law and health and safety matters.
Time to upgrade? Take a fresh look at your business technology. Is it still up to scratch? An outlay now on more up to date technology could speed up key processes, saving you money and resources in the long run.
Batten down the hatches. Make sure your network is fully protected against viruses and hackers and is sufficiently backed up now. As we all increasingly make use of computer systems, it’s essential that the data stored on them is secure.
Update your site. When was the last time you refreshed your website? Has the content been changed recently? As a constantly evolving technology, websites can quickly look dated. Your website is often your first point of contact with customers, so make a pledge to spruce up your site if it’s needed.
These are just a few examples of how you can use the New Year as a stimulus to help make 2012 the most prosperous year you’ve ever had.
If you’d like to get practical, email me Charles.Pludthura@sage.com
