Business Changing

Profit and Growth Specialist

Hold yourself accountable

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Look at that – January is almost over and the smell of summer BBQs, Christmas ham and pine needles from the ole Chrissie tree seem so long ago. So does celebrating the new year (for those who managed to stay up for it) and those three little words that come with that night: New. Year’s. Resolutions. Can you remember what yours were?

 

Quick! Write them down! Put them on your office wall! Don’t let them fade in your memory, only to resurface December 31st 2014, when you’ll feel like a bit of a failure for not achieving them this year and then pledge to make them your resolutions again next year. A vicious cycle, I tell you! So write them down, now.

 

Within your 2014 resolutions, I hope there are some business ones as well as personal ones. A mixture of lofty goals and piddly ones work best (too many big-picture dreams will put anyone off). If you didn’t make any this year – or you did but you’ve already achieved them, such as “finishing off that Christmas ham” – then now’s the time to think about them. Need inspiration? What about:

 

* Be number one in our area.

* Increase our Net Promoter Score.

* Get a social media presence.

* Give back to the community.

* Double our turnover.

* Win an award.

* Improve workplace engagement.

* Recruit and retain the best workers.

* Create a scheme to thank our customers for their loyalty.

* Get inspired.

* Cement our company values.

 

The best way to treat resolutions is to treat them like KPIs. Make them measurable – get specific, put a number on it. Now the hard bit: determine what steps you need to take to get there. What strategy can you put in place to make sure you succeed at your new year’s resolution? What steps do you need to take so that on December 31, 2014 you can put a big tick next to that box and say you are a better worker/workplace than you were twelve months ago?

 

Now put these resolutions in a place where you will see them every day. Hang them on your office wall or next to the mirror in your bathroom or wherever. Don’t bury them in some notebook or bottom draw. You need to see them daily to remind you of what is important to you, what you want to achieve, why you do what you do – basically, to remind you what your ambitions and dreams for 2014 are. Dreams and ambitions keep you focused; dreams and ambitions keep you accountable.

 

Feel free to share them with me, too – I love to hear what goals businesses have for themselves, and how they’re going to succeed at them. It makes for a good year when you have focus and an end point. If you’re a bit lost as to how you’re going to achieve them, or what the best steps to take are, get in touch with us for some business coaching; we can help you achieve your dreams for the year: zac@businesschanging.com.

 

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  • "Zac has also become a key enabler and contributor to us working towards the development of both our employee engagement and customer experience roadmaps. Kotahi is a new and fast-paced environment and it has been great to have Zac as a trusted advisor to both myself and the CEO. He has a no-nonsense and solid experience-based approach to his consulting style. I have enjoyed working with Zac and look forward to continuing on our engagement journey with the support of Business Changing”
    Jay Padden, HR General Manager, Kotahi
  • "Zac is incredibly insightful, inspiring and has been absolutely vital in contributing to the growth of my business. He's made me think beyond my goals and really given me the push my business has strived for."
    Bex Riley, Tosca Salome
  • "Great two-day workshop that gives you a chance to reflect on your business, and focus on key points that need to be addressed to maximize your effectiveness and outcomes. The workshop was both entertaining and informative and really helped us to think about how we might navigate Covid / post-Covid, and plan out our next few years to guide the direction of the business. Food and hospitality was also great. Highly recommended!"
    Nelson Raynor, Isle of Eden
  • "Zac’s business workshop totally exceeded my expectations. The two days are well planned out to ensure your thought process takes you through the various stages needed to question why you are in business, where your business currently is at and where you want your business to be. Provoking questions, explanations, stories, presentations from successful entrepreneurs and of course Zac’s personal attention ensure you walk away with a clear and dynamic business plan. The venue was perfect, the lunch and refreshments sublime."
    Rachel Kann, IQ Property Management
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    Nick Brown, Huffman Sauces
  • "Zac has given myself and the business a real sense of clarity, and a better sense of day-to-day achievement for myself and the team. Zac’s ability to ask questions that are relative and beneficial have helped me grow the business and my self-awareness and create a more enjoyable workplace. Give Zac an inch and he’ll take you a mile!”
    Mathew Phelan, New World Churton Park
  • "The business planning workshop run by Zac is a great opportunity to challenge existing thinking in your business and take results to the next level. The workshop was well thought out and provided a structured environment to channel ideas and ambitions. Zac has the perfect presenting style allowing for plenty of interaction amongst your team and networking with other business from a variety of backgrounds. Highly recommended"
    Gray Borell, Novii