| Each one leans and builds on the other. Use them | | | | 3. Start Practicing. There is an old saying, "You |
| to push new ideas in this quarter and start the | | | | play like you practice." Take it one step further |
| New Year off right. | | | | and it reads "Your future performance is |
| 1. Start Asking Questions. Begin with the basics. | | | | guaranteed by your present practices." Take the |
| Why do we do what we do? For whom do we | | | | best of what you do, practice doing that over |
| do it? What makes us different from our | | | | and over until you feel you have it just right, then |
| competitors? Why would anyone want to do | | | | take that process to the ACTION phase. Great |
| business with us, again? How do we build | | | | organizations are constantly identifying their best |
| momentum for the end of the year? Where do | | | | practices, developing a process to integrate those |
| we see ourselves in 90 days? 180 Days? 1 Year? | | | | practices and then taking action. Their future |
| Are we stagnating, growing or slipping backwards? | | | | performance is guaranteed through their present |
| You can identify 5 Action Steps from using these | | | | practices. Look at any team, watch how they |
| and other questions. Concentrate your efforts | | | | practice, what they practice and you can |
| towards those Action Steps you can do RIGHT | | | | determine exactly where they will be in the future |
| NOW to get back into the lead position for the | | | | based on those practices. Great companies know |
| New Year. | | | | this, believe in this, PRACTICE this! It is what |
| 2. Start Reinforcing Best Practices. First, identify | | | | makes them better than everyone else. |
| the best practices of what you do. Start by | | | | 4. Start Believing. Start by believing in yourself, |
| asking everyone in your organization "What do | | | | then your company. Believe that you posses all |
| we do well?" Once you have your list, decide if | | | | the tools, skills and "know how" (brains) to |
| you could enhance anything on that list and make | | | | overcome any obstacle that comes your way. |
| it better, if possible. Once this is complete begin | | | | Believe that your company does too. If you don't |
| with reminding everyone "What we do well." Now | | | | believe, look for something you do believe in. You |
| introduce a new "Action Item" from your list. This | | | | can use that as groundwork for formulating new |
| is something that your company does very well | | | | action steps. |
| and you want to keep doing it very well. Get their | | | | 5. Start the Vision building process. Start defining |
| "buy in" by asking everyone to participate in the | | | | your future NOW! Create the picture that you |
| process of Reinforcing your Best Practices. You | | | | want to achieve, before you start the New Year. |
| can do this through reward and recognition | | | | Start with lists of what you do well, what you |
| programs, bulletin boards, strategically placed | | | | would like to improve and what you would like to |
| white boards, email reminders and weekly | | | | eliminate. By using these three lists you can find |
| updates, "Power Meetings", morning huddles | | | | Action Steps that will take you and your |
| ANYTHING to get your personnel into the | | | | company where you want to be for the next |
| process. You could also identify the best practices | | | | year. Do Not Wait! Waiting only increases the |
| of your Top 5 Competitors by asking "What do | | | | certainty of getting what shows up vs what you |
| they do well?" and "How can we use their best | | | | desire. |
| practices and integrate them into ours?" One thing | | | | Use these 5 New Year Action Steps for Leaders |
| is for sure, if you are doing it right, you can bet | | | | and you will place yourself squarely on the road to |
| they are watching you! | | | | achievement. |