Challenge beyond January 1 celebrations for business leaders

Every year, business leaders kick off January with a series of events including celebrations, recognising and rewarding employees, new goal setting, strategy formulation and alignment, motivational programs and plans to accomplish goals in the coming months.

Communication can be the first step to making real, meaningful changes - changes for improvement. And then managing the mindset of employees throughout the year. Every single day is critical, hence maintaining high energy levels is crucial to business success.

Peace brings opportunity but intensifies competition

Whether we like it or not, this year will be tougher than the last. Despite the looming world economic downturn, even if the local macro environment improves expanding our markets, each business will have more competition.

You know how competition intensified over the past two years with permanent peace dawning. Even if none-of these are barriers, meeting stakeholders will pose incremental challenges. If you raise your expectations over demanded expectations you will challenge yourself to get the best. So it's not doing the same things as we did last year but doing it differently for the same results. If we want more, we have to change at higher levels.

Communicate the challenge, expectation and support to employees

Clearly explain to each employee what is expected of him or her during this year. Also, remind them of why he or she was given that specific role. Raise your level of expectations aligning with the challenge and goals. If your employees see that you are expecting more from them within realistic boundaries, they'll be encouraged to be committed. On the other hand, if your employees feel that the management doesn't trust that they can perform at a high level, they won't be motivated to do anything more than what is necessary to get their pay.

Set specific communication times and timelines. To run a successful business, the employer and employee must be on the same page, working towards a common goal. It's necessary to have open lines of communication. Deciding on how often to meet and review- whether on a weekly or monthly basis - will streamline issues and questions and ensure that important items are addressed and timely decisions are taken.

Keeping energy levels of employees high

Motivation is key to tapping into the inner power of people. Motivation is two fold - internal and external motivation. Internal is self and external is by others.

What is more fruitful and sustainable is their own personal motivational forces. Creating an organisational environment within which employees can gain job satisfaction is the only way for inner motivation of employees.

For the employer this means optimum realisable quality results through people. Self-motivation is more lasting and effective - it's a win-win for the employee and employer. Inspire self motivated staff by trusting them to work on their own initiatives rather than leader imposed initiatives. It's a mind game - and it all depends on how you manage the mindset of the employees as a leader.