Now that the Christmas rush is over, it’s time to knuckle down with your plans for the year ahead. A little organisation can go a long way, and can really help you to avoid problems, hit your goals, and make sure that you’re not only fulfilling your obligations, but becoming the best employer that you can be.
Right now, you might feel like you have your work cut out for you. We want to lighten that load though, and give you the tools and prompts that you need to get focused, and do the work that really matters.
This checklist right here will get you off to a flying start…..
Ensure that everyone has goals and objectives to be working towards
There’s often a big slump in productivity at this time of year. After the excitement and stress of Christmas, the mood can suddenly dampen, and you can find yourself with a problem when it comes to ensuring that the work gets done with gusto and enthusiasm.
You can prevent this by getting your team together, reassessing priorities, and assigning goals and objectives. Communication is key here, so be sure to lead with positivity and enthusiasm.
Plan the holiday rota
Your staff may still have leave allocation to use before the end of the financial year. Get this booked into the diary, and then start to plan ahead for the summer season. The last thing that you want is to find yourself in a position in June or July whereby everyone suddenly announces that they want to take a break!
Pencil in the dates right now, and balance employee needs with your organisational priorities.
Check your compliance with upcoming legislative changes
Employment law can be tricky and complex, but as a business owner, you need to make sure that you’re on the ball. Assess the changes that will roll out this year, and consider how you will ensure compliance.
For example, the national living wage will change in April. Before then, you need to make sure that your staff will be paid in accordance with the rules. You may have to speak with your payroll provider to iron out any potential problems before they arise.
Consider what you’ll do if key staff members leave the business
Every business owner likes to think that their staff are engaged and passionate about their roles. January can be a prime time though for people to reassess their priorities and think about their bigger goals and ambitions. If your team members were to move on to pastures new, how would you cope?
Think about whether there are other members of staff who could complete their work. If just one person is skilled with certain tasks, then you’re on shaky ground. Succession planning is key to building a business that is fighting fit for the future.
Tap into renewed January motivation
Although January can be dark and dismal, many of your members of staff will be coming to work with renewed motivation, eager to seize the day and be the very best version of themselves. Recognise this, and use it to your advantage!
Now’s a good time to consider how you can encourage staff to step up and develop their skills and talents. Formal training is an option, but it’s not the only route that you can take. Consider coaching, mentoring, and look for the untapped opportunities for development that already exist in your business.
Review your existing policies and procedures
Your HR policies and procedures should never just be documents that gather dust on your hard drive and are never again looked at once they’ve been created. You need to ensure that you’re regularly reviewing their effectiveness, and assessing whether they are fit for purpose and playing a role in moving your business forward.
Bring them out, and take a look at them with a critical eye. Are they really being applied on a daily basis? Are there any gaps that you need to fill? Do your staff and line managers know they exist?
Plan your development as a leader
It’s likely that you have already considered how you will increase your staff’s capability this year. But what about YOU? As the leader of your business, it’s essential that you’re continuously developing your own skills.
Running a business is challenging, and it absolutely must be a process of learning and growing. If you know that you struggle with a certain area, then it could be time to overcome that, or bring in help to make sure that your business doesn’t suffer as a result.
Reach out and get the help you need!
As your business grows, you quickly discover that you can’t do everything on your own. There aren’t enough hours in the day, and you can’t be expected to be good at everything! To achieve your big goals, you’ll need to consider how you are growing your team of expert advisors.
If you know that your HR practices and procedures need work, then we can help. We currently have limited availability for early 2017, and we’ll be working closely with a select few business owners to assist them with their planning and growth.
Get in touch today to arrange your no-obligation consultation.
