Wish you a successful, growth giving and happy new-year of excellence.

New years every year brings so fresh hope to teams and leaders. This is the time we think of making the New Year the most spectacular year of all. While we start of with this intention we find it fizzles off really fast.

The reason for this is because a bigger mission or purpose does not support such efforts. This is because such efforts are not done with the engagement of the hearts and minds of the teams who are responsible to deliver such results. The reason for this is because such efforts do not have a disciplined approach.

Given below are a few simple steps that can help you to gear up for an amazing 2014.

Get together with your immediate team and go through the following process.

Success inventory 2013: 

Step 1: List down the 3 biggest learnings from successes in 2013

Step 2: List down the attitudes that lead to the successes in 2013

Step 3: List down the beliefs that lead to the successes in 2013

Step 4: List down the behaviours that lead to the successes in 2013

Step 5: List down the relationships that lead to the successes in 2013

Successes are learnings but we need to change the attitudes, beliefs, relationships and behaviours that helped us to win if we are to achieve better success the next year.

Failure inventory 2013: 

Step 1: List down the 3 biggest learnings from failures in 2013

Step 2: List down the attitudes that lead to the failures in 2013

Step 3: List down the beliefs that lead to the failures in 2013

Step 4: List down the behaviours that lead to the failures in 2013

Step 5: List down the relationships that lead to the failures in 2013

Failures are learnings and they are very important to our future success.

Visioning for 2014

Step 1: List down three big goals you would like to achieve as a team in 2014

Step 2: List the attitude changes you need in each of the following areas: Well being of team members, Knowledge & skills, Values that creates a positive spirit, Relationships, Management of time, Allocation of resources [funds, talent & physical resources] in order to achieve the 3 big goals. EG: The relationships between us are important for our success, we need to protect and nurture them.

Step 3: List on belief change you need in each of the following areas: Well being of team members, Knowledge & skills, Values that creates a positive spirit, Relationships, Management of time, Allocation of resources [funds, talent & physical resources] in order to achieve the 3 big gaols. EG: I believe that providing relevant knowledge and skills to our staff will have a direct proportionate impact on our success.

Step 4: List on behaviour change you need in each of the following areas: Well being of team members, Knowledge & skills, Values that creates a positive spirit, Relationships, Management of time, Allocation of resources [funds, talent & physical resources] in order to achieve the 3 big goals. EG: We will start all our meetings and interactions, spending a few minutes reflecting on our success from the past meeting/interaction so that it energizes us to deal with our challenges.

Review your success inventory 2013 and failure inventory 2013 when listing the above. 

Executing the vision 2014

Lets’ make sure that the exercise so far does not end up as a fantasy by taking specific steps to ensure execution.

Step 1: Paint the vision 2014: Do a team activity of presenting the goals for 2014 you will aim for and the attitudes, beliefs and behaviours you will use to achieve those goals by creating a visual of it. Use any material you like to do it, but the main thing is to make it a fun, exciting and inspiring activity. If you are not the creative type, just write down the 3 goals, attitudes, beliefs and behaviours on the art board. Display it in a place where you see it. The more you see it or the more you hear to it, the more dendrites [neural pathways] you will create that will become a resource in achieving your goals.

Step 2: Display the new attitudes, beliefs and behaviours you require [as listed in the earlier section] and read them daily at least for 21 days. Repetition of any activity for 21 days makes it a habit and success is a habit.

Step 3: Create a plan for each big goal of your team, decide on specific activities, time frames, budgets and responsible persons for each relevant activity.

Step 4: When you plan your day every morning, makes sure the ‘to do list’ has the new behaviours right at the top. Plan to get them done as early as possible every day. This will create the foundation for your success. Thereafter plan to take forward the actions listed for each goal in step 3 above by taking baby steps. That will ensure you move towards realizing goals everyday.

Step 5: Review the day at the end of the day, celebrate successes and resolve to do better in areas that were neglected or done below satisfaction.

Step 6: Do a monthly review of the plans and achievement and take steps to make up for any short falls the next month.

Use reminder methods using your computers, smart devices etc. to ensure you are reminded to take action and be on track.

These steps will ensure that you are purposeful [by setting goals and a balanced set of actions], you enlist and engage the passion of your entire team [by agreeing on and improving attitudes and beliefs in the process] and you are disciplined [by following the methodical plan recommended].

Wayne Dyer once said, life would give you anything you want if you really, really, really, really want it. The 4 realise stand for; a clear dream or goal, A clear action plan, A commitment to act on it, Passionately execute. You and your team will grow towards your potential this New Year. Be on track, expect challenges, face them, learn from them, learn from failures and celebrate successes.

Go get it, life will give you what you want if you really, really, really, really want it.