New Resolutions for a new year

My column in this week’s Financial Post looks at four “new year’s resolutions” your business should consider adopting.

Reason: I’ve always thought that Labour Day is business’s New Year’s Eve, and that the new business year begins on Tuesday. Dec. 31 has snow and stuff, but September marks a new start after the summer doldrums. Plus, it’s budget times. Plus, for many companies, the fourth quarter is the one that counts the most.

Here are my four resolutions.
Take a fresh look at your business, through the eyes of a customer. Identify and root out any discordant element that prevents customers from experiencing your company the way you planned.

Invest more in training your people for this tougher new economy. Help them understand how dependent your company is on their actions, and give them the training they need to perform their jobs right. Pair up underperforming employees with mentors

Cull the herd. If training and retraining don't work, get rid of underperformers. This is a great time to find motivated new staff: There are many unemployed and underemployed people eager to work for a leading-edge company such as yours.

Say "thank you" every day. All your staff want to hear from you more often, to know they're on the right track, that they're recognized and their efforts are appreciated.
Make sure your industry partners -- customers, suppliers, bankers -- also know how much they mean to you. You'll spark dialogues that could result in valuable business tips, new opportunities, referrals and repeat business.

Read the full story here.

Happy New Year!