Starting Your Business on the Right Track for 2020
The start of a brand-new year can be thrilling in so many ways, with more amazing opportunities and exciting milestones to look forward to. But is your business ready for 2020? Here’s how to use this fresh start to get everyone on the same page and ensure that your company is on the right path to success this year.
Pause and reflect on 2019
Before you charge ahead into the unknown, start the first day back in the office with a team meeting and get everyone to spend some time reflecting on 2019. Together with the team, lead a discussion on the key milestones that occurred. What were some of the business wins? Were there any significant KPIs crossed? List them out, and acknowledge and thank your team for their hard work. Next, single out the not-so-good parts – What could have been done better? How can some processes be improved? The start of a new year is the perfect time to go through these issues so that you can take note on what can be improved for the company to move forward.
The Manager’s Resource Handbook also recommends bosses to perform a self-evaluation of sorts in terms of your performance as a leader. Make it a point to find out how you can better yourself in order to better lead your team in the new year. Change may be unpleasant but it is imperative for progress to happen!
Calibrate business goals for 2020
When you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Make sure everybody is right on track by drawing up clear business goals and outlining specific steps on how and what needs to be done to get there. Goals should be SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-bound). Forbes maintains that approaching goal setting with a long-term business strategy in mind will provide greater clarity for the entire team and boost morale as employees know what they are working towards.
Equip employees with the tools for success
While it is easy to stir up motivation (especially at the beginning of a new year), it is also imperative that you equip your employees with the tools they need to succeed. Are there any ways your business processes can be more efficient? Entrepreneur stresses the importance of investing in the professional growth of your team by setting aside budget for employee training – help your team do things better by giving them the necessary tools and skills.
For starters, tech is a fuss-free and easy way of helping to improve business efficiency. Begin by looking at your current office equipment – are your current devices up-to-date and able to quickly serve your needs? Cut the clutter and hassle with multifunctional devices (MFD). Instead of individual printer, scanner and fax machine, opt for an MFD like Canon’s imageRUNNER ADVANCE series that streamlines work processes at the touch of a button. Not sure what printer you should get for your business? Don’t worry - we’ve picked out the best printers for each business here!
Besides hardware solutions, Canon also offers a plethora of software solutions ranging from cloud to print and document management solutions that can improve business productivity such as uniFLOW and Therefore Online. If you are not sure where to start, the experts at Canon will be more than happy to share a more about Canon products and business solutions, and how they can help your company soar to greater heights. Don’t be afraid to seek help!
Articulate that the management is open and ready to communicate
They say that communication is key – so besides walking through your plan and creating a nurturing and empowering environment, ensure that communication channels are clear and wide open between the management and the team. Inc highlights the importance of listening and taking input seriously as employees will not participate in providing feedback if the management’s response is hostile. Make the effort to create a culture that encourages communication as this creates trust and encourages innovation and growth.
While good communication guarantees that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goals, leaders must also be able to engage and inspire their team to keep moving forward. Tell your employees that they hold the key to success and that their performance makes the company. After all, teamwork makes the dream work; success is achievable when everyone works together.
With these simple steps, Business Can Be Simple. Go forth and seize the new year!
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