Pointless New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business

I don’t know that “corporations are people,” but I do know that businesses are run by people, and therefore are prone to the same mistakes and miscalculations that we mere humans often fall prey to. And although we realize that the calendar is an arbitrary, man-made, slice-and-dice of the year, we still put a lot of emphasis on the late December – early January period as one of putting some changes into effect, in our personal lives or in our businesses’ lives.

In my view, New Year’s resolutions for your business are pointless if:

• You feel you have to wait for January 1 to implement them.
  This shows a lack of urgency to the resolution. Who is the genius that decided that the middle of winter was the best time to make changes in our lives and businesses? 
• You resolve to do (or not do) things without first establishing a clear plan to navigate to success. Winging it means you change some things kind of when you remember to do so. It does not show the commitment to change that is necessary. Without a clear plan, you do not have a resolution; you have a hope, a dream, a wish. Good luck with that.
• Your resolutions are too big. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I mean, even Lost Springs, WY probably took at least a few days to build. Very few people or organizations succeed when they bite off more than they can chew. Instead, break the big goals down to a succession of small goals, tied together with one purpose in mind.
• Your resolutions are too small. If your big change this year is that Fridays are now “Hawaiian Shirt Day,” it might be fun, but it does not qualify as a business resolution of change. Sorry. If you want to resolve to change something, then change something that will impact your business in a significant way.
• The resolutions you make in December seem like a big pain in the ass in January. If the love of the resolution dies that quickly, then you have to wonder about the importance / feasibility of the idea in the first place. 
• Your resolutions are directed by industry changes or regulations. They are no longer resolutions, but mandates. Do not mistake one for the other.
• Your resolutions are created solely by you, the boss, and handed down to your organization. Without input from your team, your business resolutions become personal directives from the boss. We know how much employees just love having change foisted upon them, with no say in the matter!

Frankly, the idea of New Year’s Resolutions for businesses is a cute one, but not terribly practical or binding. Strong businesses have a Business Plan, complete with tactics and strategies. This is significantly different than resolving to do some things differently in the coming year. If your idea for a New Year’s Resolution is something that will positively impact your business, then perhaps it should be included in your next version of the business plan, instead of simply “resolving” to do something differently this year.

Put that on your list of New Year's Resolutions!