5 Tools You Need For A Successful New Year Ahead

Planning ahead for the upcoming year is the fun part of closing out a year. The possibilities of what lies ahead are endless, and every option seems viable right now. Thinking about what is on the horizon has tremendous benefits for any leader. The benefits extend far beyond the confines of day-to-day operations, reaching into the realms of strategic alignment, resource optimization, and adaptability to market dynamics. Okay, that’s a fancy way to say a plan provides a clear view of what you need to be ready. But a well-crafted plan serves as a roadmap for achieving your objectives and acts as a shield against the uncertainties that often accompany the retail landscape.

Control what you can control is a frequent refrain heard in retail. And it is true. We cannot control external factors, but how we react is typically the difference between success and significant failure. Preparing yourself for different potential situations will ensure you are in a better place to face any obstacles you encounter. As I mentioned above, there are endless possibilities, but we all know that few things happen exactly as planned. But without one, there is no easy way to get back on track or be proactive in working around the barriers that come up. Let’s look at five ways you can ground yourself in planning for success and having a path back if detours are required.

Planning Calendar

Last month, I shared, Have You Started Your Planning For Next Year Yet? Now is the Time to Get Ahead of That. This was primarily about setting up your annual planning calendar so you can see the event you already know exists. I love this exercise to see what space is already taken up. It allows me to plan my personal items together with known business events. I keep this on my wall right next to my desk, and it is one of my most used tools for planning and reviewing. This grows in value every year I use it. It provides the highest level view of what is happening, allowing me to build more specific weekly and daily plans throughout the year.

Daily Planner

The daily planner keeps me on track each day of the week. These have been popular for decades now. I recall the full DayRunner craze in the 1990s, and I sense there is a renaissance in daily planners. People are realizing that they need a better view of what they need to accomplish and when they will get things done. Whether you use an analog version (paper and pen) or a digital version, it is an incredible tool to ensure you can manage each week and day to its full potential.

I use both (sort of). I don’t have paper and pen per se, but I write out activities on digital paper and pencil a daily plan. I start with the digital task list I maintain. I use Todoist for my digital to-do list and move everyday items into my Daily Planner. I have my own template I use for writing out and planning each day on my iPad. This helps to reinforce the daily priorities and provides me a quick access point for jotting down any notes for the day or from the day as it happens. You can find the planner template I use by CLICKING HERE.

Strategic Roadmap

We all need to know where we’d like to go and some ideas for getting there. That is the purpose of the strategic roadmap. It is essentially your goals and action plan. This can be as simple as creating three columns for yourself and your team. What is the desired outcome (destination)? What steps will you take to get there (how I’ll get there)? These are your tactics on how you’ll achieve your goals and get to the desired outcomes. And finally, how will you measure your progress (have I arrived)? I am not a huge fan of the raw idea of ‘what gets measured, gets done,’ but it tends to be accurate. (Historically, people try to measure too many things, or the measures become more important than the actual goals we’re trying to achieve.) Select your performance measures carefully and build in the guardrails to ensure you are using them effectively and they are taking you where you truly want to go.

Personal Development Plan

Planning is not just for the business and is tied to calendars; it is also about yourself. Plan for your personal growth and how you will achieve your individual goals and development. Leaders who do not invest time in their development stagnate and begin to lose a step to those around them. You cannot wait for others to invest in you (and they should, just don’t put all your eggs in that basket.) You are the most important person in your development plan. This does not need to be complicated and highly involved. Identify some areas you would like to continue to grow your skills or knowledge base and begin reading, watching, or listening to resources on the topic. To get started, I recommend writing down two or three things you would like to be better at and then spending fifteen to thirty minutes researching (google or ChatGPT are great places to start) what items are available. Select a book, podcast, or video to watch. Keep it simple, and let the interest carry you forward from there.

Updated Routine and Habits Plan

Think about how you spend your days and your time. Do you have the right foundations to get you where you want to go? What are your daily and weekly habits and routines? Everyone has them; whether you know it or not, they exist. Understanding what you do on autopilot is a good place to start determining how you spend your time and whether those actions are setting you up for success. I will have a few additional articles coming on this subject in the next two weeks. They are the pillars of our time management and productivity. Spend time identifying yours and then be very intentional about what you want them to be so they work for you and not against you.

Retail is an ever-changing environment, and the leadership needed within the industry must continue to keep pace. As the new year awaits, this is the time to put your planning and strategy hat on to be prepared for the opportunities ahead. The benefits are not confined to spreadsheets and projections but resonate in the enhanced customer experiences, optimized operations, and sustainable results that come from the effort and energy of planning. Your ideas and anticipation are your compass, and the resources above you build as your guide. You will be well-positioned to seize the potential, navigate the challenges, and make this coming year the success it can be.

How will you put these resources to work for you?

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Photo by Nick Morrison on Unsplash