Ringing In the New Year

written on December 31, 2008 by Michele Ridella

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How will you begin 2009?  I do not need to tell you that 2009 will be a year of change and challenge. As we face the demands of a difficult economy, what will you do to develop your people to rise to the occasion? This is the time for new ideas, processes and innovations. I am sure that you have already created your business strategy for 2009 and probably did so in the third quarter of 2008. But how did you develop it? Did you include your people in creating the strategy?  Did you ask their thoughts and ideas regarding business operations?  The people that do the work everyday are the closest to it. Did you find out what is on their minds as your company moves into 2009?  It is not unusual to make top down decisions.  As the leader of your organization, that's your job - you take the ball and you run with it!  But is that the only way to lead the business?

The opportunity to encourage your people to use their innovative talents is now.  As Daniel H. Pink discusses in his book, A Whole New Mind - Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future, "the era of "left brain" dominance, and the Information Age that it engendered, are giving way to a new world in which "right brain" qualities- inventiveness, empathy, meaning- predominate".  In other words, get creative! To help develop your leaders to use their "right brain", consider the following:

  • Analyze how a problem has been typically handled in the past. Are there steps in the process that could be changed and improved? Did you get the results you wanted? If not, where are the opportunities to stretch your leaders outside of their comfort zone to strengthen outcomes?
  • Brainstorm with your leadership team. Before you settle on a path or a solution, encourage your people to create a list of alternatives - and do it as group. Hearing what others have to say presents the opportunity to build on thoughts and create solutions as a team. As the old saying goes, "two heads are better than one".
  • Ask the tough questions. If you are faced with making budget reductions, what are your leaders' ideas on how to handle it? Looking at a change in products and services? What do they think are viable options? Survival impacts everyone. Get their thoughts.
  • Delegate. You do not need to do all of the work, which is one of the toughest lessons to learn when it comes to leading people. Make assignments that encourage professional growth in your people. The more you give people the opportunity to develop as leaders, the more prepared they are to step in and lend a hand in running the business.
  • Ask your leaders to analyze the risk.  What do they see as the pros and cons? Is the option truly as risky as originally thought or are people making assumptions that stifle creativity as well as the opportunity to strengthen revenue?

As you challenge your people, you will also challenge yourself as the Leader of your organization. Are you up to the test that we will all face in 2009? We have a clean sheet of paper in front of us and an opportunity to incorporate new methods, new thoughts and new ideas to meet the demands of a changing business environment.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!