Reignite your management style with professional resolutions in 2023

Didn’t you feel wonderful when you ceremoniously kicked the year 2021 to welcome 2022 with open arms? A lot has changed since then. A lot of cultural issues have come to a head, and now more than ever, organisations are introducing accommodating policies. However, if you boil it down, after a span of 12 months, you will agree that the new year will be tough (with or without the coronavirus). 

But with the layoffs and the employee turnover not stopping anytime soon, employee engagement is becoming the need of the hour. You have to stay hopeful and resilient in these times of adversity. And if we throw a question like: How does 2023 look from this lens, you will need help to answer. 

Our heart goes to all the managers and leaders who have stayed strong and kept their teams motivated amidst the changing landscape. While you might be up for your plan on structuring for your new year, here are some ideas that will make a lot of sense to managers and leaders.

Using these tips, you can achieve that lofty goal of becoming “a better leader.” So, are you all set? Let’s get going! 

Begin on a celebratory note: They do a good job; Tell them

When it comes to attaining leadership skills, we often tend to build: communication, problem-solving, leadership, empathy, EQ, and so on. But giving a heartfelt appreciation often tends to be that roadblock in which leaders forget to spend time. 

But did you know that feeling genuinely appreciated lifts people up? If you look at it closely, it makes your employees feel safe, encouraging them to do a good job. Researcher Marcial Losada found that positive feedback outweighs negative feedback by a ratio of 5.6 to 1. This is why you must end 2022 and begin 2023 on a celebratory note. 

Remember the Hippocratic oath here, “Above all else, not harm.” But we agree that it might sound a bit unrealistic in the business world. This is why you must follow the rule “do less harm.” You need to think about “how to hold an employee’s value?” and it’s even more critical if you feel they have fallen short of their goal. 

Also read: Set the “Why” to achieve your goals with purpose

Here’s what you must do to build this habit so that you can be appreciative of the good work your team did:

1. Practice appreciation by taking a few moments to appreciate yourself. For instance, ask yourself, “what is one thing that I feel proud of today? Or what could I do better tomorrow?” The idea is to ask questions that value your current and future goals and vision. 
2. Start noticing what others are doing right. The better you get at it, the more naturally you will be able to see its positives. For example, you can begin by considering what positive qualities you often take for granted. Ask yourself what they bring to the table. 
3. The more specific you get about the value, the more you will start noticing its significance and meaning. You can make a positive impact by showing appreciation for their contribution. You can do this by sharing an appreciation email, a handwritten note, or in-person

Make sure you use genuine positives in people. Use this skill set to add charm to your management style.

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Make meaningful work a part of the routine: Work and meetings should be impactful

For everyone, December is a month when they are surrounded by endless thoughts: “Where is my life moving ahead? Am I happy with what I have?, Is it just me, or does life feel unfulfilled to everyone?”

If you are pondering, you must also review whether you are making sense at work. You could invest in meaningful work as a part of your New Year’s resolution. Ask yourself, “what are things that are meaningful at work?”

Remember, time is precious, not only for you but for your team as well. Ideally, you must begin by streamlining your meetings. Let’s be open to the idea that no one wants to spend time on video calls or in-person meetings where they have no reason to be present. This is why you must:

1. Track team meetings and purpose. 
2. Make them necessary only when you have to share feedback, answer questions, or ensure that the team is in sync with the timelines and feedback.
3. Make them efficient by creating realistic deadlines.
4. Only call the personnel in a meeting if you feel they can contribute and create a culture of sharing.

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Besides, you must focus on the opportunities for success instead of instances that can go wrong. Never be afraid to think outside the box. It could result in innovations in meetings and everyday work. 

Understand what lends meaning to your professional life and realise the motivation that helps you churn out fresh perspectives to daily problems and challenges. 

Meanwhile, you can read this. While it might be shared in 2022, the value stays even today.

Read: It’s Time to Make a Difference in 2022! Set and Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions

Embrace flexibility: Support yourself and your team with the power of flexibility 

The chances are that you are still attending work calls from your lounge or have begun hybrid work. That’s the same for your team, right? It is easy to estimate that it will also be a norm in 2023. But all this has taught us one lesson, be flexible in work management. 

For instance, you can take work strongly and stretch it on Mondays but be at ease on Fridays. It will help your employees to seek flexibility in times of need. Here’s what you should do: 

1. Collaborate with the team and understand their flexible schedules.
2. Open avenues for working remotely, in-office, or at work-ation. Ensure they understand their responsibilities, work and health. 
3. Always gather feedback. This will help them understand their unique needs. After all, not everyone shares similar strengths and challenges. You must see whether implementing specific flexibility schedules help your team to show up and excel. 
4. Never use the same measures of success. Stay focused on outcomes rather than hours spent. 
5. Stop using old ways to check up on projects. You have to trust them that they will bring better results. You will only get the team’s effort and engagement to excel and achieve goals. 

Balance work challenges with support: Be there for your team 

Challenging your team with tasks will boost their self-esteem and make things meaningful for them. Seeing you accomplish new things at work will make your team feel valued and worthy. 

But don’t leave them if you want to support their trust amidst the work challenges. Otherwise, this theory will backfire on you. Don’t make them wary of not making it in a lone battle. This is what you should do:

1. You must expose them to challenges that drive their innate talent and resolve their issues by supporting them with constructive feedback.
2. Provide them with learning opportunities and resources so that they can set themselves on the path to demolish challenges. 
3. Create a support structure where they can adapt to change. Know their questions and concerns and do your best to resolve them. 
4. Make sure you make their office experience special. Create a space where they can feel the warmth and connect with you and the organisation.

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Teach yourself self-care and do the same for your team: Practise it. You will need it

If you want to excel in your management style, self-care is an important component, whether you agree or not. Burnout is increasing. And with the marketplace dynamics changing quickly, losing motivation is often a consequence of all the changes. We understand. But when will you take care of your physical and mental health, so 2023 feels less taxing? 

However, self-care looks different to everyone. For some, it could be about shutting Worklife strictly after 6 pm. For others, it could be about monthly vacations to rejuvenate. Since your job is stressful by nature, you need to figure out the type of self-care that will benefit your overall health.

Begin your journey towards it. This is where you must begin!

1. If you want to begin self-care, begin with self-awareness. What sets leaders apart from managers is that they practise self-awareness to find direction, purpose, influence, and success in their work lives. This is how you can do it:

• You must be aware of your feelings
• Gather feedback about yourself
• Learn your strengths and identify what you can use to do well at your job
• Be mindful of how you present yourself
• Be sure to get alternative viewpoints

This will help you build a foundation of high productivity, performance, and overall work satisfaction.

2. Always set boundaries to get what you need and what you ask for. For this, you must know your limits to avoid confusion. You can seek support from your workplace’s mental health resources. 

When you are doing this, set an example for your team so they can also define their limits to manage their stress and take care of your physical well-being. This will allow them and you to create healthier relationships and a positive environment. 

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While you are moving into 2023 with these resolutions, we would suggest you consider two more important things:

1. Lead through examples. This will help you show the impact of your work and leadership responsibilities. Lead through actions so that you have a benchmark for your team. 
2. Always have a milestone in your upskilling activity. Ensure you level up the changing times to stay relevant to the “future of work.” 

What next?

We can help your leaders manage the constant changes brought by new technologies with standalone or group leadership training that will allow them to stay with time, attract trust, build credibility, and boost their personal growth.