Someone recently asked me that dreaded question we all get this time of year: “What are your new year’s resolutions?” For some, the simple concept of setting – and achieving – lofty goals with a “new year, new you,” mindset is a stress trigger. For others it can be invigorating, like a clean slate with endless possibilities. But, either way you cut it, with one third of the American population setting new year’s resolutions every year, the practice is definitely part of our culture.
According to this recent Forbes Health article, 62% of the people surveyed feel pressure to set a resolution in the new year and yet only about 8% tend to stick to their goals for one whole month. What a telling statistic!
This year, instead of setting lofty goals or new year’s resolutions for your business, we encourage you to try setting a new year’s intention instead. A simple phrase that acts as a compass, pointing you in the direction of the “big picture” goals you’ve set out to achieve.
How to set your intention
When you’re setting milestones and goals for your business this year, we suggest coupling them with intentions that will keep you motivated, grounded, and focused on the present. It works the same as personal growth intentions. For example, if your personal goal is to lose 20 lbs this year then your intention may be to live a more healthy lifestyle. By focusing on the intention you may be more apt to make small lifestyle changes along the way – like walking on your lunch break, drinking more water, or skipping that side of bread at dinner – instead of obsessing over the scale.
While business goals may not be as clean cut as the personal resolutions we tend to set for ourselves, finding your new year’s intention doesn’t have to be complicated. Here are some steps you can take to get you there.
1. Growth from gratitude.
Instead of focusing on what came up short last year, reflect on what was good. The accomplishments, the successes, the joys.
- What are you grateful for?
- What were the unexpected surprises?
Reviewing the year with a focus on reevaluating the wins will help you set your new year milestones with gratitude and confidence.
Next, turn your lens inward and examine ways you want to grow as a leader or in business. Some questions to consider:
- What did you learn about yourself/your business last year?
- How did you/your team grow last year?
- Were your expectations met? If not, why?
- How did your priorities change through the year?
Once you’ve had a chance to reflect, consider making this process a team exercise. Team members’ input may offer insight on how you want to grow as a company, a leader, or a member of the team.
2. Re-examine your core values.
At insight180 we’re staunch believers in the power of core values. They are what support the company vision, define the culture, and help align an organization and the people that work there. Simply put, core values are meant to illustrate why your company exists and what you hope to achieve and represent to the world.
The start of a new year is a great time to revisit your brand’s core values and consider if they still ring true. They can also help guide how you want to grow as a company.
- Do your core values still ring true to how you’re operating today?
- If not, should they change or should your way of business change?
- Is your mission the same?
3. Identify what you want to improve upon.
Once you’ve congratulated yourself on the wins of the last year and received some guidance from your core values, it’s time to identify the areas of change you want to explore in your business. When setting goals, manage your expectations and strive for realistic achievements that you can work towards all year long. If immediate growth and satisfaction is what you’re hoping for then you’ll likely be disappointed by the results and risk falling into the 92% of people who give up on their “resolutions” within the first month. Some questions to get you started:
- Do you want to better define a niche in your brand positioning?
- Do you want to expand your marketing presence to attract a different kind of customer?
- Is it time to refresh your website or rebrand your business?
- Would you like to improve your company culture and diversity initiatives within your organization?
Select the areas of improvement you want to focus on this year. And bonus points if you can prioritize the most important.
4. Set your intentions.
Set an intention word or phrase that can ground you and put the “big picture” goals for your business into perspective. This will remind you of the progress you’re making toward the larger goal all year long – and can help get you back on track when unexpected challenges arise. Examples of some business intentions may be:
- Be open to opportunities for growth
- Take a seminar to learn a new skill.
- Be present at more networking events.
- Pursue a client you consider a “big get.”
- Create balance
- It’s OK to say ‘No’ to requests outside of your scope.
- Delegate to team members who are ready for more responsibility, creating an opportunity for you both to thrive.
- Emphasize communication among the team.
- Explore the freedom that a flexible schedule may allow for your work/life balance.
- Embrace peace and calm
- Eliminate or streamline work processes for a better workflow.
- Remove yourself from toxic or stressful work relationships.
- Schedule more breaks in your day to walk, feel the sun, do a quick meditation, catch up with a friend – whatever brings you moments of joy.
5. Create accountability.
The purpose of setting intentions is to make progress on your goals each day. Finding a way to hold yourself accountable and measure your “progress” can help you keep those intentions at the forefront of your mind. There’s no one right way to measure progress. Try some different accountability approaches to find what works for you, such as:
- Keep an achievement journal or vision board to remind you of those goals.
- Put a timer reminder on your phone to stand up and stretch (or “do the thing”)
- Celebrate wins with your staff. If you hit roadblocks, ask for their input and perspective to collaboratively find a solution.
- Set smaller goals throughout the year so that there is more opportunity to celebrate and feel successful (and then celebrate!)
Whatever your goals and intentions may be, we hope that 2024 is the year that you thrive! If any of your intentions involve your company’s marketing or branding, we’re here to help. Reach out to team insight180 to learn more about what we can do for you.
