Welcoming the new year may feel a bit different this year, given the challenges of 2020. This year, thinking about the long-term is much more difficult. The pandemic has given us all a different experience of time. The pandemic has not only served as a profound reminder that something unexpected can land in our well planned path, halting all progress. It has also made the path beyond the pandemic unclear.
As a business owner or leader, it is a great time to review resolutions for 2021 with your team. You may be thinking that is a crazy idea. It is probably challenging enough to figure out what is needed to make it through the coming months. Public health leaders are warning that these may be the hardest of the pandemic. Helping your team focus on approaching 2021 resolutions by remembering any bright spots that have revealed themselves during this unusual time will help light a new path to follow once the pandemic ends. Supporting your team will be vital for determining a successful outcome.
2021 New Year’s Resolutions could be based on consideration of four things:
- What do I want to keep from changes I made to cope with the pandemic?
- What do I want to reclaim from the pre-pandemic time?
- How would I “build back better” if I were in charge of the organization or business?
- How can I be kind to myself in the new year?
Each of these things will require some long-term goal focus, and you can help your team member imagine a new ideal self for the post-pandemic times. Share them with your team and be open to discussion as they feel comfortable. Finding opportunities to practice mindfulness will be a lot more helpful than setting high resolutions/expectations for 2021. Include on-line resources for support. Here’s to a happier, healthier & flourishing new year!