Issue #15: The Countdown to 2025 Starts Now!
Big goals, bold dreams, and a fresh start await. Are you ready to make the most of it?
The train is moving fast!
How many times this past week have you said “Wow, I can’t believe it’s already December?”
I know I have, in almost every conversation I’ve had. Sorry to those I keep reminding you that time is moving quickly!
But the truth is, it is. This 2024 train is almost at the end.
It’s a time for reflection, family, slowing down but also a time for ramping up, setting new goals, and looking ahead - what will 2025 bring us?
📌Tip of the Week
Sending a personal thank you note
I’ve been fortunate to work with amazing people and teams throughout my career. So much so, we’ve made positive impacts in one another lives - whether a good mentor, leader, or just a sounding board when you needed someone.
With that I’ve also been fortunate to both write and share personal thank you notes but also be the receiver of many.
And, I keep every one of them.
Tucked into a corner of my desk there is a stack of hand written thank you from team members and company leaders and I kept them for when I need a bit of a reminder or pick me up.
So, as a leader - especially given the holidays - this tip of the week is to write a personalized thank you note to a few people who you want to show appreciation for.
Putting together the puzzle for setting goals
Let’s be real, setting goals for the new year can feel daunting.
You want big, exciting goals that ‘move the needle’, but you also need everyone on board to make them happen.
The key? Alignment at every level.
Think of it like a puzzle: the company vision is the picture on the box, team goals are the corner pieces that frame the picture, and individual goals are the smaller pieces that bring it all together. When each piece fits, that’s when the magic happens.
Here’s how to make it work:
1. Start with “Why” (and keep it simple)
Nobody gets fired up by vague goals like “increase revenue” or “be more innovative.” Your team wants to know the bigger picture. Why does this goal matters and how it impacts them.
For example: Instead of just saying, “Our goal is to boost customer retention by 20%,” connect it to something they care about: “If we retain more customers, we’ll free up time to focus on exciting projects, create stronger relationships, and hit revenue goals that allow us to invest in our team.”
Make the “why” feel personal and exciting, it’ll set the tone for everything else.
2. Break it down for teams
Once your company goals are clear, it’s time to break them into team-level objectives. The trick is to be specific but not overwhelming.
For example:
Company Goal: Increase customer retention by 20%.
Team Goal: The Customer Success team will reduce churn by 15% with by reducing the time for new customers to onboard.
Give each team ownership of a piece of the puzzle. When they know exactly how their work contributes to the bigger picture, they’re more invested in the outcome.
3. Make It personal
This is where the real magic happens. Work with individuals to connect their personal goals to the team’s objectives.
Ask questions like:
What skills or experiences do you want to develop this year?
How can those align with our team’s goals?
For example:
A team member who wants to grow their client relationship skills could set a personal goal to host monthly check-ins with top customers.
Or someone who’s passionate about data could lead the analysis to identify customer pain points.
4. Keep it SMART (but not stale)
Yes, we’ve all heard about SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-Bound). And yes, they work. But they don’t have to be boring!
For example:
Instead of: “Increase team efficiency,” try:
“Streamline our weekly meetings to save 2 hours per week by Q1, so we can focus on creative projects.”
Make your goals as inspiring as they are clear.
5. Do NOT set it and forget it
Here’s the deal, goals don’t work unless you revisit them.
Schedule regular check-ins - whether it’s a quarterly review or a 15-minute chat during team meetings.
You can even ask:
“What’s working so far?”
“What roadblocks are you facing?”
“How can I support you in hitting this goal?”
Studies show people are 42% more likely to achieve their goals when they write them down and review them regularly (Dominican University). So keep the conversation going!
And as a final reminder, celebrate the wins
When someone crushes a goal, celebrate it. Recognition doesn’t have to be over the top, sometimes a simple shoutout in a meeting or a quick Slack message is all it takes.
And don’t wait until the end of the year. Celebrate the progress, not just the result.
🆕Hello, AMA!
Q: “I am getting ready to take time off and truly disconnect. In the past Ive been readily available via Slack or text but this year I need to take time for myself. How can I make sure my team is prepared before my 2 week vacation?"
A: First of all, kudos to you for prioritizing real time off! It’s so important to recharge fully, and setting boundaries is a sign of great leadership.
Here’s a step-by-step approach to ensure your team is set up for success:
1. Communicate early. Share your vacation dates and a clear plan for who handles what while you’re out. Set expectations for being fully offline.
2. Empower and designate a point person. Designate someone to take the lead, walk them through key priorities, and provide escalation paths for emergencies.
3. Plan and delegate. Outline what needs to happen, assign responsibilities, and document workflows. Use tools like shared docs or project boards for visibility.
4. Lastly, trust your team. Frame this as a growth opportunity for them to step up. Remind them you trust their judgment and abilities.
Enjoy your break - you’ve earned it! 🌟
Got more questions? We’re here for you, send them over!
Wellness Corner
Listen your way to better health
Music can be a powerful tool for better mental, physical and emotional health. From reducing stress, to improving focus, productivity and healing.
Here’s what the science says:
Listening to music can lower cortisol levels, the body’s stress hormone.
A 2013 study in Frontiers in Psychology1 found that patients who listened to calming music before surgery reported significantly lower anxiety compared to those who took anti-anxiety medications.
Upbeat tunes stimulate dopamine production, enhancing feelings of happiness. A study published in Nature Neuroscience2 revealed that listening to favorite songs can increase dopamine levels by up to 9% .
Instrumental music or nature sounds can improve concentration. Hello, Ecotherapy!
Music therapy has been shown to lower heart rates, reduce pain perception, and even accelerate recovery for hospital patients, according to Harvard Health Publishing.3
Community Insights
We’re making moves…
balanced.boss was always intended to be more than just a newsletter.
A true interactive community of like-minded leaders looking for ways to balance work demands, build better teams and focus on their own health and wellness.
Starting in January we will be moving away from our current newsletter provider and heading over to Substack with a goal of building a community forum that allows for more questions, more resources and more interactions.
And dont worry- for those who are already subscribed you’ll automatically be a part of our continued discussion and the balanced.boss fam.
Until next time, stay well.
𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅.𝒃𝒐𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎