What Are Your Leadership Resolutions for the New Year?

We’re only a few days into the new year, and by now you should be taking your first steps toward achieving your goals for 2012. While some of the most common resolutions involve shedding a few pounds, quitting a bad habit, or spending more time with family, it’s also important to consider goals that will help you develop in your role as a leader. Every workplace is different and therefore every leader’s resolutions will be different, but here are a few ideas to help guide your goal-setting efforts.

Focus on employees
A company’s greatest asset is its employees, so it’s in a leader’s best interest to ensure their talent sticks around. Studies have shown that employees who are engaged in their companies are as much as 80% less likely to leave than disengaged employees. An investment in ensuring your business is positioned as a preferred employer in your market means you will be better prepared to not only keep your best and brightest, but also attract other top performers. From special perks to performance incentives, there are a multitude of strategies to consider to reward your workforce for a job well done and to maintain their commitment to the success of the company.

Eliminate unnecessary time wasters
In a recent survey, business leaders cited email, meetings, and constant interruptions as the biggest drain on their time. And, another 51% said they lose up to nine hours a week due to office clutter. In 2012 make a point to do away with unnecessary time wasters. Cut the amount of meetings you have each week or combine several shorter meetings into one. Set aside an hour here and there throughout your week to close yourself off in your office and hang a do-not-disturb sign on the door. You should also get into the habit of only checking email at specified times to help reduce the risk of being distracted from your tasks at hand. Basically, commit to taking back your wasted minutes and start applying them to more productive endeavors.

Focus on self-improvement
According to the American Society for Training and Development, 50% of organizations feel their executives have a gap in leadership-level skills. Your employees want to follow a leader they respect and trust to make the best decisions for the company and the workforce. Whether it’s through leadership workshops or self-guided training, investing the time and energy to self-improvement shows your commitment to being a better leader. Your employees will respond if they believe your intentions are genuine and it may even encourage them to follow your example and seek out training and development opportunities for themselves.

Take a risk
Poet T.S. Eliot wrote, “Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far it is possible to go.” This is an especially apt statement for business leaders today because it’s the companies that take the biggest risks that typically end up defining their industry. Obviously, that doesn’t mean business leaders should blindly chase every rabbit trail they come across, but rather be open minded and courageous enough to take calculated, make-or-break risks to set themselves apart from the competition. If you make it a policy to always stick with what works and never deviate from “business as usual,” your company’s forward progress could stagnate and leave you vulnerable to competitors who are already seeking out the next big idea.

Make time to celebrate
It’s a fresh new year with new opportunities to let your hard work and determination shine. As the American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Enthusiasm is one of the most powerful engines of success.” So, take some time to celebrate your accomplishments this year. While determination, hard work, competency, and drive are all important factors in success, taking time to bask in the glory of a job well done is just as vital to maintaining a high-performing team. A little celebration here and there can do wonders for employee morale and engagement.

While there are many methods to help ensure new year resolution success, ultimately it is up to you to stay focused and to keep yourself – and your employees – committed to making a change in 2012. What are some of your New Year’s leadership resolutions? Let us know in the comments section below.