5 Business Resolutions Every Entrepreneur Should Make for the New Year
It's the end of the year, which means half of you are running around thinking the new year has already arrived, and the other half of you are still trying to finish up everything you set out to do in 2021. Like it or not, 2022 is almost here and now is the time to get your plans and ideas in place for how you’ll make it a successful one for your business. Not sure where to start or what to resolve to do differently? Here are five smart business resolutions for entrepreneurs to get you thinking:
5 business resolutions for entrepreneurs and small business owners
1. Study leadership
Leadership is an ongoing learning process. With so many different ways to lead, varied personalities entering the workforce, and evolving work habits, the way leaders effectively bring their organization forward changes constantly.
The same will be true as we enter a new year. This year, more Generation Zers will submit applications for jobs and stake their place in the workforce. This will force leaders to continue to adapt their styles to meet the new demands, expectations, and communication styles of this emerging workforce.
If you’re a leader, this is your year to shake things up, get a little uncomfortable, and learn fresh new ways to bring your organization forward.
2. Practice delegation
It’s the standard battle cry of management: delegate, delegate, delegate. Still, it’s harder to do than it should be, it seems.
It’s normal to want to ensure your work gets done on time and correctly; handing off responsibility to someone else makes that difficult. What if they drop the ball? What if the quality isn’t up to par? What if something goes wrong? You’ll be the one to blame if the work isn’t done to perfection.
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But delegation isn’t a choice—it’s mandatory these days. With work piling up on your desk, it’s critical that you step into the new year with a new mindset about asking for help. Train your team to understand and beat expectations so you can delegate more and produce more in the coming year.
3. Make faster decisions
What decisions have you been sitting on this year? What have you put off doing or deciding on because you’re just not sure of the right approach?
Making decisions is hard work. It requires you to choose a path and forge full steam ahead. That’s a scary thing, especially as you start to consider all the potential pros and cons.
But all this deliberation can drive you crazy. More important, it can cause your productivity to plummet. One great business resolutions for entrepreneurs is to resolve to make faster and better decisions in the new year by giving yourself a deadline and sticking to it. Promise yourself that whatever you decide on by the due date will be the path you take. You’ll be amazed at how much farther you go because of it.
4. Achieve work-life balance (finally)
It’s easy to get sucked into the drain of work; it’s equally impossible to ignore all the tasks, concerns, and obligations of your home, friends, and family. But this is your year to break free from this constant tug-of-war and finally achieve work-life balance. It’ll only take a little bit of effort from you.
The key to dividing your time appropriately between work and your personal life is to get rigid about your schedule. Make it clear when you’re off work and when you’re available. The better you communicate this to your team, the easier it’ll be to fully step away from work when it’s time, and fully engage with work when you arrive at your office.
5. Harness your resources
Technology today has given us the gift of having resources for just about everything. Have you put these apps and programs to full use yet? If not, now’s the time.
Harness your resources by using programs available to you. For example, work faster on payroll by finally investing in more efficient payroll software. Or, spend less time on scheduling by finally implementing a new online scheduling app. The technology is there to make your life easier. Now it’s up to you to implement it. Check out these 25 Amazing Productivity Tools for Small Businesses.
What’s your New Year’s business resolution?
What have you resolved to do better next year? If you have a hard time choosing, pick just one item off this list of business resolutions for entrepreneurs and get moving on it, starting at the beginning of the year when you’re back at work. Slow progress is still progress. Move the needle ahead in your business by moving the needle ahead with your personal development.
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