Time to Hunker Down

The holidays are but a memory, the Super Bowl has ended the NFL season, and even January White Sales are a thing of the past. Spring Training and March Madness are a tantalizing month away. Most of the country is locked inside the grip of winter’s snow, ice, slush, gray, and chill. This time of year is kind of a bummer.

It’s a great time to hunker down and be productive at work! C’mon, what else is there to do? You have finished all the end-of-calendar-year insanity, like annual reviews, evaluation of performance against goals, bonus recommendations, and analysis of actual spending against budgets. It’s been over a month since you rang in the New Year with an exhausted sigh. Now it’s the Chinese Year of the Rabbit – so get hopping!

With a fresh budget, newly established goals, and fewer fun distractions, it’s time to hunker down and be productive. You’re already well into the first quarter of the year, and you need something to show for it. Be sure your goals are prioritized, that your team understands where to spend their individual and collective energy, and has bought into the importance of project deadlines.

Don’t forget… People may still feel a little let down after the end of the year. You can do something for them that costs you nothing. Express kind thanks for their efforts and earned results. Be specific about what you appreciate. They need to know that what they do is noticed, and not taken for granted. You would be surprised at the positive impact that can come from a little kindness and recognition. I once delivered hand-written, personalized Thank You notes to everyone on my project team. Many of those notes were displayed on cubical walls for years afterward.

Pulling together to accomplish goals and celebrating successes is what builds a team. Take advantage of the natural lull in the air this time of year to hunker down and get things done.

New Year's Resolutions for Marketers

Last year, we offered a list of suggested resolutions for corporations. This year, we'd like marketers to use these resolutions to gain more loyal fans for the brands they promote. Better yet, perhaps they would less frequently disappoint the customers they already have!

• Our membership program will be valuable to our customers, and allow for easy participation (i.e. no card to carry in already overstuffed wallets).

• Forays into social networking will be driven by a plan with measurable goals, and will be managed as a serious offshoot of our overall, integrated marketing plan.

• Our Facebook presence will reflect the personality of our brand, and provide important information that lets our “friends” feel like insiders, and presents valuable deals that lure repeat visitors to our page and attracts new customers.

• We will strive to engage our fans with our brands and products, and create opportunities for them to interact as a community, share experiences, and generate buzz.

• Managing negative feedback will be part of our transparent communication with our customers. We will view it as a positive opportunity.

If you missed last year’s blog on resolutions for corporations, click here:
http://habaconsulting.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-years-resolutions-for-corporations.html

New Year's Resolutions for Corporations

As a former corporate executive, investor, and potential loyal customer, I have witnessed some unfortunate decisions, policies, and behavior norms within large, reputable businesses. Wouldn’t it be nice if more corporations would set higher standards by which they would operate? Here are some ideas for New Year’s resolutions that would generate admiration and loyalty in the heart of employees, customers, and investors: · We will unfailingly treat our employees with the respect and care that reflects our public statements about how important they are to the success of our company. · Our advertisements and marketing will be devoid of mean-spirited humor and demeaning sexual stereotypes. · Motivated, responsible, innovative managers will be consistently recognized and rewarded over those who spend energy posturing and positioning themselves politically. · Our working relationships with vendors and service providers will not only be respectful, but also productive, beneficial, and financially attractive for all parties. · We will always be open to new ideas that make our company, our products, and our work environment better. · Our collective energy will be consistently focused on things that truly matter, as clearly stated in our mission, values, and goals. Please comment and share your ideas for other Corporate New Year’s Resolutions.