Now that the holidays are behind us, it's essential to narrow in and focus on how you can make 2018 your best year yet. It's time to reflect on what went well in 2017 and what could have gone better. It's important to determine what elements of your business could use improvement.
To avoid sounding cliché, it is the perfect time to make resolutions (or "goals" if you'd prefer) that focus on your overall business plan for the year. Does your showroom need a fresh new makeover? Would adjustments to your sales process or training programs be beneficial? Think about your customers, and what your team could do in 2018 to provide the absolute best in customer service. Come up with a specific list of actionable improvements you could make to ensure this upcoming year will be better than ever.
A firm grasp on your resolutions for 2018 will make your planning process easier. For each overall goal, come up with the steps it will take to complete that goal, and a timeline to complete each step. Hold a meeting with your team to collect others' ideas and feedback, review all of the goals you have come up with and create time frames and action plans. Get everyone involved and keep everyone on the same page. Turning this into a team effort will only increase your chance of having an even more successful year.
Transitioning to 2018 gives us a fresh beginning. As business owners and managers, we definitely need to take a step back at times to rest and reflect. Once we are feeling refreshed and have clear minds, it will be much easier to find the creativity and motivation to charge forward with new and improved strategies.
The year is already off to a great start and we can't wait to see how our dealers choose to accelerate their businesses – and their results – in 2018. We'll be right there with you to help. Happy New Year!