I know I know, your socials are FULL of how to make the new year better than last year….
That won’t be hard will it! Also, well done to you for leading well, caring for others and finding a way forward.
Like my mate Darren Hill says, “Leaders aren’t finding themselves, leaders are finding a way.” You did that for the most part of last year and I want to celebrate you and say well done!
Perhaps we had our best of times, worst of times year and the opportunity to reset for what’s ahead is our opportunity right now.
Reset. To begin again.
But how? And why?
The three questions in this piece are not new. They’re not even all that imaginative, until you put them to work. Until you ask others to lean in and engage with them in a meaningful and real way. It’s when you get moving you see the beauty and the potential of these questions. When you curiously ask one another, seek feedback, chart a course, have a go, and celebrate the possibility they create.
Your frame of reference is your personal and organisational purpose. What you are all about this year, and in that context ask these questions.
ONE
What could we START doing?
What can be introduced to your team and work right now that would make a big difference to morale, to culture, to employee experience? Is there anything you wanted to get to last year that just gave way because of your other responsibilities in caring for your people.
Starting gives you the opportunity to refocus your team, galvanise your resources, and deepen your mission. It can create the opportunity to reimagine and make new. It’s a great opportunity to shake off the old and celebrate what’s possible.
TWO
What can we STOP doing?
Is it time to call ‘done’ on a project or initiative that simply hasn’t delivered? No matter how hard, how many tweaks and what adjustments you’ve made, this simply won’t work. It hasn’t delivered and won’t. You already know that, saying it out loud is a relief.
Call it what it is and finish the thing! It’s hard, and right.
People respect courage like this and at the beginning of the year making a courageous call to end what’s not working matters because it frees up resources of all kinds to reimagine what’s next (see point one.)
Rick Warren said you can do more in ten years than you think you can and less on one year than you think you can. Empty out the year as MUCH as possible to get the most valuable things done.
THREE What can we CONTINUE doing?
What still has life left in it and can be refreshed or refocused? What needs some direction, resourcing, attention, so it can really fly in the next little while?
I am certain you have some breakthroughs waiting to happen given the right attention and environment.
This whole approach provides a place and space to think with some innovation, choose courageously and, refocus wisely. Sounds great, innovation, courage and wisdom all working together for the year of your dreams.
May you make real, and enjoy the benefits, I am cheering you on. When you’re ready, I am here to help.
All about leaders worth following and culture worth reproducing.
#forleaders
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