In a post-holiday funk? No matter how stressful December was trying to meet the end-of-year demands of clients and staff, not to mention juggling work and holiday preparations; there’s something sad about saying goodbye to another year.
If it’s any comfort, you’re not alone feeling this way. A post-holiday funk is real, reports Harvard Business Review (HBR). For many people, it’s common to think about the past year and possibly focus too much on what you failed to accomplish rather than how much you achieved. HBR recommends that to get over feelings of anxiety about what lies ahead, set goals and lay out specific actions that will ensure the positive outcomes you want.
Maybe this year, you’d like to focus on new clientele, which could mean offering new services. Expansion may be something you’d like to undertake. That could involve adding a new location. If you’ve been disappointed about retail sales, which can add significantly to your bottom line, you may want to train your employees in retail selling and even add e-commerce to your online presence. And it may be time to put more improve your loyalty program.
You can’t undertake all these changes at once, however, and that’s where prioritizing comes in. Figuring out what to do first can be challenging and will take time. However making a move when you aren’t prepared can result in a setback, which is the last thing you want.
What if it all seems important?
Faced with a number of goals, it can be difficult to set priorities. Here are some tips for putting your priorities in place:
Look at the big picture: Decide what is most critical for the growth of your spa or massage practice and don’t focus on less critical priorities. While the latter may provide some improvements; they won’t take your business to the next level.
Be clear about purpose: When analyzing your priorities, rank them according to their potential to:
- Improve your business operations
- Accelerate growth
- Build a strong foundation for future business
Set milestones: Each priority should have a set of milestones and metrics. For example, if you have decided to bring more millennial clients into your business, there are a number of steps you’ll need to take. You’ll want to do research to find out what millennials want – they are very enthusiastic about CBD, for example - what they are willing to spend on treatments and what will ensure their loyalty as clients. Next, you may need to invest in training current staff or bringing on new team members to offer the treatments millennials are seeking. You’ll also want to adjust your marketing plans to reach the millennial client.
Setting priorities and creating a plan for each one will keep you focused throughout the year. And don’t worry if your priorities change. You should review your priorities every quarter to make sure that they are still appropriate for reaching your long-term goals.