Let’s start out by saying NO to traditional New Years’ Resolutions. That’s a NO to fad diets, new exercise machines, and that new vacation savings account you always planned to open. Blasphemy, you say? What if you were to forget fad diets, over-hyped self-improvement programs, running until your knees give out, and instead focus that energy on a Professional New Year’s Improvement List?
You already know the areas where you can do better. Create a list of opportunities: Strive to make fewer mistakes, improve design productivity, speed up floor truss production on table #2, reduce absenteeism, reduce forklift downtime, or improve quality. They can be personal objectives or for supervisors to take and apply to their departments. Don’t make a list of general items to improve, pass it on down the line, and just hope they happen. Be specific and get personally involved. This doesn’t apply only to the boss or managers. If you are a production associate, it may be as simple as getting to work 15 minutes early every day. That simple act not only shows initiative and reliability, but it improves productivity.
Why is it so simple? You are there every day doing a job, as are your people, so why not? Your job is not likely to be forgotten, minimized, or abandoned. So, go out on a limb and pick a project, create a plan, and follow it through! Be it a personal or team objective, it must contain a problem, a solution, an end expectation, and a plan to get there.
It could be as easy as seeing where obstacles to productivity are in production, design, or delivery. The solution may be as simple as implementing a new productivity software, starting a bonus program, adding training, upgrading equipment, or investing in new equipment. Identify the need, develop a plan, and you make it happen. If the problem is low morale, start with an offsite activity for employees and their families, such as BBQ’s, picnics, outings at the zoo or to theme parks, or any other function where “off the job” fun benefits the company morale. The process is simple, pick a leader (maybe you or someone in HR), develop a budget, pick a time, and go have fun. If it works, plan on doing it again next year. (Hint: It Works)
Your energy, and the willingness to use it, is the key. If you resolve to lose 50 pounds and you lose 5 pounds a week, it would be easy to stay the course. Along those same lines, if you can pick small goals and find incremental improvements for you and your people, seeing those results will help create a cohesive, productive team.