I love the end of each year. For me, in addition to holidays, time with friends and family, and food, it’s a time to reflect. The community team and I are lucky enough to usually have a little downtime during the year-end period, and in addition to taking time to relax, I like to think about the year that’s past and help frame the one ahead. Doing so helps me revisit accomplishments, identify areas of improvement, and set myself up for a successful new year - and you can do it too. Here’s how.
Look back. A year is a long time, and you probably did a lot of things, marked many tasks complete, and, if we’re being honest, had some ups and downs. Everything - both good and less so - is useful for you in that you can learn and adapt as you prepare for next year. Take a moment to write down your significant accomplishments, along with what factored into your success. Was it great teamwork, having the right tools, or getting enough buy-in? Write a few bullet points next to each major accomplishment with these details. Also jot down instances where you didn’t achieve your goals. For instance, maybe you were blocked on a project or weren’t resourced to get the work done effectively. Note each significant miss, along with why. Reflect on what could be done differently the next time around to help reach a different result.
Celebrate. Even though I just told you to note down both what worked and what didn’t over the past year, this isn’t a time to be maudlin - it’s a time to celebrate. For each of your significant accomplishments, think about how you felt when you finally had the chance to mark each one complete. Soak for a moment in that feeling - you, and likely others working with you, made that happen - you did it! Thank yourself for your effort. While you’re at it, send a comment, an Appreciation in Asana, or even an old-fashioned card to thank each of the people you worked with and call out what you achieved together. Never underestimate the power of a good, old-fashioned kudos. People like being recognized for a job well done, and they will remember how you made them feel when you thanked them for their work - and so will you.
Plan ahead. Now that you’ve taken some time to review your accomplishments (and your misses), and have celebrated your achievements, it’s time to set yourself up for success in the new year. Start by mapping out your team’s goals and assigning ownership among you and your team (Asana is a great tool for doing this). This level of clarity helps make sure everyone’s work is pointing in the same direction. After you have this foundation for the year to come, review what worked, and what didn’t, over the course of the year that’s ending. Are there common themes for things that worked well, like getting buy-in from stakeholders, or having the right tools at your disposal? Make sure these continue into the new year. For things that didn’t go well, talk with your team to develop ideas for how to address each significant obstacle, and put systems and processes in place now so that you’re better set up to achieve your goals in the future.
If reflecting on your past year and planning for the next one is new to you, don’t be daunted. Set aside 30-60 minutes to go through the steps I outlined above - it really doesn’t have to be a heavy lift. Review your ups and downs, give yourself and those around you a pat on the back, and create structures that will help you and your team reach your goals in the new year.
