Part One
WHEN we think of New Year resolutions, we often think of making sweeping changes for ourselves and for our business.
But this is not necessarily so, says Rachelle Isip, Productivity Consultant and Time Management Coach, The Order Expert.
“You’ve got countless opportunities for improvement every single day,” she says in an article in Inc.com. “Compounded over the course of a week, month, and year, these seemingly insignificant activities can quickly add up value.”
The challenge is to “allow yourself to value and accept these small actions as tangible and positive steps forward.”
Here, she shares with us 24 Thought-Provoking New Year’s Resolutions to Make in Your Business in 2024.
1. Hold standing meetings. Remember how newscasters used to be seated? They’re now standing tall while sharing with us the news with a new energy. Maybe we can apply the same into a handful of our meetings to shake up things, suggests Isip. But “if you’re unable to add standing to your meetings, try incorporating some sort of physical break during sessions.”
2. Write better emails. With poorly written emails notorious in the world of work, Isip says we can make a good start by blasting through communication lines “by creating succinct subject lines and avoiding long winded messages.” The more concise and clear you can be in email communications, the more likely your recipient will understand your request.
3. Meditate daily. Meditation or prayer are great tools if you want to improve your productivity. Offering us the time and space to simply exist in the present moment, it’s a good idea to meditate or sit quietly for 10 to 15 minutes;
4. Organize your desk according to your preference. With your workspace and desk crucial to finishing your work, take a moment to consider if your desk is properly organized for your need. Some questions Isip asks us to keep in mind: are materials within easy reach and conveniently located in your desk? Are items grouped in a way that makes it easy for them to be used in tandem, such as pens near a notepad?
5. Create a desk landing pad. Make space for yourself so you can do your work—like a desk blotter or large piece of paper. Also, keep things tidy—“return items where they belong, keep the area clean and free of unnecessary items.” That way you’ll have room to write, type, calculate, sketch, review, and call.
6. Embrace small pockets of time. Give yourself the gift of time, says Isip. You’ll be amazed what you can accomplish in a minute or so. Make a phone call, check a balance, come up with an idea, take a break from the screen, savor the hot beverage. With that, “you’ve more time available than you think.”
7. Start meetings on time. This year, resolve to start all meetings on time. Make every meeting count by announcing your intentions to meeting attendees in advance…preparing an agenda…designating a timekeeper…and arriving early for the meeting set-up. Above all, “keep your word. Watch the clock and start your meeting on time.”
8. End meetings on time. It’s also a good idea to end meetings on time. Doing so “allows others to put their full attention and focus on the meeting. They’ll also have sufficient time afterwards to attend to other responsibilities.”
9. Write handwritten thank-you notes. You’ll set yourself apart from the crowd with handwritten notes to customers, clients, staff, and vendors. While the digital age has made communication quick and easy, nothing will replace a handwritten thank-you note. That’s because, as Isip says, “a handwritten note gives another layer to you and your recipient.”
10. Put an end to exaggerating. Do you make things bigger than they seem? No need to blow situations, scenarios, and circumstances way out of proportion. Chill, play it cool. “You can gain some perspective by writing down your thoughts or asking a trusted person to discuss things with you,” says Isip.
11. Encourage personal and vacation time. Taking time off can do wonders for your well-being. Make time off a priority for your team, urges Isip. They’ll come back refreshed and relaxed, and raring to return to work.
12. Write a job description for yourself. It’s a good way to reassess yourself—your strengths, skills, and things you can and should do to improve. The start of the year is a good time to work on this.
More next week.
PR Matters is a roundtable column by members of the local chapter of the United Kingdom-based International Public Relations Association (Ipra), the world’s premier association for senior professionals around the world. Millie Dizon, the Senior Vice President for Marketing and Communications of SM, is the former local chairman.
We are devoting a special column each month to answer the reader’s questions about public relations. Please send your comments and questions to askipraphil@gmail.com.
Image credits: www.freepik.com