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5 New Year’s Resolutions for Managers
December 27, 2016 by Anna-Kati Pahker
Categories:
Management Tips
Did you know that although about a half of us make New Year's resolutions, only 8% of the resolutions made on that blissful eve actually get fulfilled? Some say that it's due to the fact that the resolutions are too unrealistic or that there isn't a plan. Others say it's the lack of definition and the fact that the resolutions are too vague. Since we want you to be the 8% that actually succeeds, we came up with 5 resolutions to make why you should make them and the way you can fulfill them. 
How to make it stick? Think about your planning habits and make delegating a part of your normal resource planning. If you plan for your team once a week, make the delegating list once a week etc.
How to make it stick? Try out time tracking apps like Toggl for that 52 and 17 rule to make it as easy as possible for yourself.
3. Promise to embrace failure. The mantra of every entrepreneur out there. But it’s going to make the year ahead of you better if you welcome it to your office. If you do it right, of course. Embracing failure works, if you analyze why you failed. That’s the thing you should make you team to understand - it’s okay to fail if you learn something from it.
How to make it stick? You have to really believe it. For one day, analyze every single failure that occurs in your day, even the tiniest things. Being late for work or burning that omelet. Make yourself see that you can actually learn so much from everything if you just pay attention.
4. Promise to praise those that deserve it. The magic of employee recognition increases performance. And that’s definitely something you want, right? If your employees don’t feel valued, there’s more tension in the office, more errors, and poor customer service together with higher staff turnover are right around the corner. You are probably going to agree that those are not good things. The right way to praise your team is to be genuine about it and praise the one’s that deserve it. Make your compliments specific and individual. That’s the way they work the best.
How to make it stick? Well, the easiest way is to implement making more compliments as a regular part of your everyday life. You are thinking how cute that girl’s hair is? Tell her. Your husband or wife made extra yummy coffee today? Tell them. Just force it out of yourself. Even if it feels weird at first, the endgame is going to be superb.
5. Promise to work out regularly. It’s basic, we know. Regardless, it has been found that exercise is the thing that’s going to reduce that pain in your neck that comes from sitting at the table all the time. It improves cardio-respiratory fitness. It boosts productivity. It’s just good for you, and you know it. If you are trying to talk yourself out of going to the gym because you are too tired from work, remember that the scientist at the University of Canberra found that mental fatigue doesn’t affect exercise performance. So just get off your butt!
How to make it stick? You have to be precise about it. Set an achievable goal that you can follow. Experts say that you must rest at least one day a week and exercise 3-5 days depending on what you are trying to achieve.
If you manage to fulfill all five at the same time, you are truly a magical unicorn of a human being. If you manage to succeed at one of the promises, you are still probably ahead of 92% of the others that made New Year's resolutions. So make a plan, be realistic, and define exactly what you want to achieve.