Here we are at the start of a new year. For many, today will be the first day in the office of 2025. Many will say “this year will be different!” but will it? Statistics show that less then 15% of New Years resolutions last 30 days, and less then 10% accomplish their goals at all! Let’s not make today the start of another failed resolution. Let’s set you up for success today!
Is your goal for the New year to make permanent changes in your business, focus on clearly identifying the need for change and not just changing for the sake of doing something different?
In order to be part of the 10% that achieve their goals your plan needs to include developing a well-communicated plan with specific goals, actively involving your team, providing necessary training and support, and consistently monitoring progress to ensure that the change sticks. All of this will greatly increase your odds of success.
Key strategies for lasting business change:
- Identify the need for change:Analyze your current business performance, market trends, and customer feedback to pinpoint areas that require improvement or adaptation.
- Set clear goals:
Clearly define the desired outcomes of the change, ensuring they are measurable and achievable. - Communicate effectively:
Clearly explain the rationale behind the change, the benefits for employees, and the implementation plan to all stakeholders. - Involve your team:
Engage employees in the change process by soliciting feedback, involving them in decision-making, delegating action items to them, so they are actively involved in the change, and providing opportunities for training. - Appoint a change team:
Establish a dedicated team to lead the change initiative, responsible for planning, execution, and monitoring progress. Have them report progress to the leadership team as part of your weekly leadership team meetings. (You are having weekly leadership team meetings, right?) - Create a roadmap:
Develop a detailed plan outlining the steps, timelines, responsibilities, and milestones for implementing the change. Change is much more likely to be successful when we break it down into bite sized pieces. - Provide training and support:
Offer necessary training to equip employees with the skills and knowledge needed to adapt to the new processes. Please don’t set them up to fail by expecting them to just “figure it out”. - Monitor and measure:
- Regularly track progress against established goals, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments as needed (also known as “tapping the armadillo”).
- Foster a change-oriented culture:
Encourage a mindset that embraces continuous improvement and welcomes new ideas to sustain change over time. This is imperative if you seek to be a growth organization. Your team knows more about how to improve your company then you think, and they are just waiting for an opportunity to show you how!
Important considerations:
- Address resistance:
Be prepared to address concerns and resistance, and actively work to mitigate these issues through open communication and support. - Be flexible and adaptable:
Acknowledge that changes may need to be adjusted based on feedback and evolving circumstances. - Celebrate small successes:
Recognize and reward positive contributions along the way during the change process. There is no better way to maintain motivation and momentum!
What are your changes that you are committing to in 2025? Let us know in the comments.
If you need help creating a change plan reach out to info@encorestrategic.io or private message me here.
Cheers to the changes you will achieve in 2025!