In the fast-paced world of corporate leadership, starting the year with a comprehensive leadership reset is not just beneficial but crucial. Dismissing the 'same old, same old' approach can drastically transform your organisation. The beginning of the year presents an opportunity to redefine goals, invigorate your leadership style, and align your team with the organisational purpose. This blog explains five actionable tips every leader should adopt to reset their leadership at the start of the year.

Reflect on the Past Year

The first step in any effective leadership reset is thorough reflection. Take a candid look at the past year—what worked, what didn’t, and why. This is not just about box-ticking exercises but diving deep into the organisation's operational and cultural facets. Analyse project outcomes, team dynamics, and client feedback. Was your leadership sufficiently aligned with the company’s strategic objectives? If not, what were the gaps, and how can they be bridged?

Critical Questions to Ask

• Were your leadership goals met last year?
• How did your team perform relative to these goals?
• What challenges did you face in achieving desired outcomes?
• Were the processes in place effective, or are there alternative approaches to consider?

Re-establish Organisational Purpose

Purpose drives performance. Period. Begin by reaffirming what your organisation stands for and its long-term goals. Align this purpose with team objectives. It’s the high-level 'why, how, and what' of your business. Identifying purpose should not be a superficial task; it is foundational to sustainable success.

Steps to Re-establish Purpose

• Host strategic workshops focusing on company values and long-term vision.
• Encourage open dialogue, allowing team members to voice their interpretations.
• Implement feedback mechanisms to ensure alignment at all levels.

Develop Focused Leadership Skills

No leader can remain effective without continual skill development. Start the year by identifying areas needing improvement. Whether it is conflict resolution, communication, or decision-making, make a concerted effort to sharpen the tools essential for leadership.

Skill Development Actions

• Enrol in leadership courses focused on specific areas of weakness.
• Schedule regular participation in webinars and seminars.
• Engage with mentors or hire a leadership coach for targeted growth.

Prioritise Goal Setting and Strategic Planning

Enter the year with clarity. Well-set goals provide direction and establish priorities for you and your team. Strategic planning is not merely an exercise for the file cabinet; it is a backbone of organisational success.

Goal Setting Techniques

• Use the SMART framework to set clear, achievable goals.
• Develop a roadmap breaking down goals into actionable tasks.
• Monitor progress through regular reviews and adapt plans as needed.

Foster an Innovative Culture

Innovation is either embraced as a cultural priority or it is not. Resets offer a chance to kindle the spirit of innovation within your team. Encourage creativity and the sharing of new ideas. Implement systems to evaluate and develop these ideas without derailing current projects.

Implementing Innovation Practices

• Conduct ideation sessions with cross-departmental teams.
• Allocate time and resources for experimenting with new ideas.
• Establish recognition systems to reward innovative contributions.

Incorporating these five tips can position you to lead with clarity, purpose, and renewed vigour. A leadership reset is not simply a chance to catch your breath but an opportunity to set the pace for a year brimming with potential.

Next Steps

Want to learn more? Check out these articles:

Leading with Emotional Intelligence: A Game-Changer for Teams and Leaders

10 Priorities When Stepping Into a New Leadership Role

Understanding the Fundamentals of Effective Teamwork

To find out how PerformanceNinja could help you, book a free strategy call or take a look at our Performance Intelligence Leadership Development Programme.