2019 has arrived!

Now that the turkey has been consumed, you’ve had lots of rest (hopefully!) and the champagne has been popped it is time to get back to work and prep for business success in 2019. Companies of every kind can benefit from evaluating and reflecting on the year that has passed in order to plan for the year ahead. Take advantage of the slower month of January to complete the following five steps and make sure that your business is ready to take on the year.

BUDGET BREAKDOWN

Although no one likes to deal with numbers or face the reality of bank accounts, it is something that needs to be done. Your business revolves around what came in and what went out the year before. Based on the numbers in red and black, you can determine what your budget will be for the year ahead. Be realistic. There’s nothing worse than being too optimistic and running into problems before the year is out.

UPDATE CONTACT LIST

Having information for your clients and contacts is so important, but having the correct information is even more vital. If you don’t update your contact list on a regular basis, do it at least once a year to make sure that you have access to your contacts whenever you or someone else in the office may need it.

CLEAN UP COMPUTER

Do you ever notice that over the course of a year it seems that your downloads folder, desktop and other places on your computer get so unorganized and overpopulated? It’s hard to feel productive when you spend fifteen minutes searching for one file. Before starting the year’s projects, take the time to clean up your files, update your programs and start with a clean slate.

SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE

Now that social media is a major part of the business world, it is important to be aware of your presence and ways to improve it. At the beginning of the year, have a few people in the office review the company’s social media presence including engagement, reviews, etc. and have them make a list of successes from the past year and another list of improvements to make in 2019. Make sure you choose people from different walks of life (if possible) to get a varied opinion that will appeal to all ages and genders.

GOAL PLANNING

Something that businesses often overlook is the importance of goal setting. Goals are what keep you and your employees determined and productive throughout the year. Before any serious work starts in 2019, set your own goals, encourage your employees to set their own goals and sit down all together to set collective goals. Set short-term goals, ones to be completed in a few weeks or a month, and long-term goals, those that will take more effort and may take a few months or years to complete. Post these goals up around the office to remind everyone of what you are working toward.

These five steps can really enhance the success of your business over 2019 and encourage your employees to stay organized and productive. While a new year is a clean slate, it is also a chance to reflect on what you’ve done and make your future actions even better.