[January 01, 2014] Most New Year’s Resolutions fail – up to 90% don’t make it. There are naysayers who declare that it is best to ignore the tradition and do not make a resolution because “it will fail anyway.”
For leaders, however, this is quite different. Leaders should make resolutions … promises to themselves to improve their leader skills.
Knowing that most resolutions fail is the beginning of walking on the right path. We are told that the biggest reason for resolution failures is that they are too vague. For example, “I want to improve myself.” Instead, it would be better to declare, “Today I will sign up to take a leadership course on personal skills at XYZ on-line university.”
“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Confucius
We say in the military to use the KISS principle: Keep It Simple and Stupid. In other words, just keep what you are doing simple and you are more likely to get it done.
So, what are some of the things leaders should do this new year? If leaders are truly committed to improving themselves, and subsequently their organizations, there are some actions that can be taken that will work. For this New Year 2014, here are some resolutions as food for thought:
- Read one book a month on leadership.
- Create a LinkedIn account and gain connections.
- Write one article within the next 6 months on leadership and post it on-line.
- Seek out the top person in your field of leadership and contact them.
- Join a leadership forum.
- Create a leadership Facebook page and solicit people to join it.
- Give a presentation on leadership to an audience not in your organization.
- Take an on-line leadership course.
- Begin a leadership blog.
- Become a mentor.… oh, and one final resolution suggested from my wife:
- Get out from behind the computer and walk in the park every day.
These will help build good habits. Not all need to be adapted. Not all need doing at the same time. Nevertheless, taking one of these right now and beginning is a big start.