Be a Better Leader with These New Year’s Resolutions

The beginning of the year is an excellent time for making resolutions. Planning how you want to improve yourself increases the likelihood of reaching your goals.

It would be best if you focused on developing your leadership skills as a team or company leader. The more effective you are at leading others, the better your business results.

Some areas to focus on include employee development, engagement, and collaboration. Improvements in these areas lead to more excellent retention and a healthier bottom line.

Learn to be a better leader with these New Year’s resolutions.

Modify Your Leadership Style for the Workplace

Adjust your leadership style to fit how your workplace functions. Your team’s needs depend on whether they work onsite, remotely, or hybrid.

  • Model the behaviors you want to see in your team.
  • Remain adaptable to change.
  • Promote empathy, equity, and inclusion.
  • Encourage learning agility and resilience.
  • Prioritize direction, alignment, and commitment.
  • Experiment to see what works best for you and your team.

Encourage Employee Development

Emphasize the importance of professional development for your team.

  • Talk with each team member about their goals, areas to focus on, and how to maximize development opportunities.
  • Let your team set aside time during the workweek to focus on training.
  • Provide customized support when a team member finishes a development activity.
  • Follow up with each team member to discuss what they learned, how they will apply it, and how you can continue to support them.

Prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) attracts and retains top talent. This helps your organization grow.

  • Encourage employees to find new ways to think and talk about diversity.
  • Support leaders in developing the skills to promote equity and inclusion in the organization.
  • Implement scalable ways to ensure your DEI initiatives are comprehensive and sustainable.
  • Ensure every employee and group can access the opportunities and resources needed to reach their potential.
  • Acknowledge and celebrate differences among your workforce.

Develop a Psychologically Safe Work Environment

Promote trust, respect, creativity, collaboration, and innovation throughout your company. Help employees at all levels reach their potential.

  • Encourage employees at all levels to share their ideas.
  • Create norms for handling failure.
  • Support productive conflict.

Monitor Employee Engagement and Retention

Pay attention to employee engagement at every level. Engagement levels impact your employee retention rates.

  • Frontline managers likely lead the majority of your employees. Support and develop your managers to build critical skills that promote inspiration, empowerment, and happiness. These actions build trust and loyalty among your workforce.
  • Show employees why their jobs matter. Connect their job duties and responsibilities to your company’s goals. Provide flexibility and autonomy to complete the work.
  • Team success depends on collaboration and trust. Create an environment where teammates rely on each other and feel safe sharing their perspectives.
  • Offer opportunities for employee growth and development. This promotes engagement, connection to the organization, and long-term loyalty.

Is It Time to Hire More Employees?

Partner with Connectology for help filling your hiring needs. Find out more today.