Year-end list

I am inspired by Sea Level Ops sending out a ConnectWise Year-End list.  My list has a different focus.

First of all, what are my core objectives as a leader?  They might be:

#1  Assess my performance

• How well have I achieved my goals?
• Have I consistently followed-up to manage my direct reports?
• What have I done this year that significantly improved our culture?
• How well have we recognized each person in ways they prefer?
• What is the best thing I did to help someone this year?

#2  Retain everyone on my team who is performing well

• Work with them to achieve their 2014 strategic plan
• Ask them to draft, then together confirm their 2015 strategic plan
• Confirm how they will grow - sign them up for something they want to learn, like our Certified LEADER program
• Recognize them in ways they prefer, and
• Confirm why they are doing meaningful work, and what would be most meaningful for them to do in 2015

#3  Assess the performance of my employees

• Close out each employee's 2014 goals
• Confirm my people met my behavioral expectations for them
• Confirm I met each direct report's behavioral expectations for me
• Complete an annual performance review for each employee
• Identify the most meaningful activity each employee did.  

#4  Assess our Client Experience

• Survey our Clients to confirm their satisfaction
• Assess satisfaction at each step of a simple Client Experience Cycle
• Consider what we have improved this year
• Survey my people to confirm their concerns about Clients
• Determine "what gaps to fill" to not repeat mistakes. 

#5  Assess our New Business Development

• Compare our sales performance against goals.  No excuses.
• Consider sales coaching or outsourcing sales management to a professional sales organization like The Leren Group
• Define how to improve the key weaknesses of each team member
• Define how to expand the key strengths of each team member
• Define Good - Better - GREAT sales goals for 2015

#6  Assess our core Red Ocean / Blue Ocean Strategy

• Fully comprehend our Red Ocean business
• Fully comprehend our Blue Ocean business, if any
• Lay out a schedule to pilot more Blue Ocean opportunities
• Draft a plan to jettison businesses we cannot be #1
• Decide on an outside resource to help us move more Blue Ocean.

#7  Prioritize actions to take 

• Set clear, measurable goals for the organization
• Assess and meet with every team member to confirm engagement
• Complete everyone's BOLD NEW 2015 employee strategic plan
• Define quarterly activities to excite and refresh my team
• Schedule personal time to relax, refresh, and re-dream. 

QUESTION:  You weed a garden, and then what do you do?  You stand back to assess your work.

Why not MAKE THE TIME to fully assess your 2014 so you can make 2015 your best year ever?