By Jassica Dhillon-Bhullar and Ginger Brunner, CHRP

Once December arrives, the New Year is right around the corner and many employers will dedicate this month to wrapping up the year in preparation for the holidays. Whether this month finds you wrapping up year-end projects, planning for 2015 or enjoying holiday festivities, we encourage you to take a few moments to step back and reflect on the year that has passed. Make time to reflect on past challenges and accomplishments, celebrate successes and embrace your organizational culture as you prepare to welcome in a New Year.

Reflect on Challenges
While some challenges can be predicted, others cannot. All too often, in the course of busy-ness, we neglect to take time to consider past challenges in order to recognize positive results or make adjustments to avoid similar situations in the future. Make note of any expected or unexpected challenges that you and your team faced over the past year. Could the challenge have been predicted? How did the team respond? Was the situation addressed or resolved? George Bernard Shaw has been quoted as saying “Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.” Consider lessons learned throughout the year and identify what needs to be done in the upcoming year to prevent similar challenges in the future (i.e. planning employee training and/or development activities).

Reflect on Accomplishments
Consider what you and/or your team have accomplished over the past year. What obstacles were overcome, goals achieved or milestones reached? What do you or your team currently do well?

Celebrate Successes
What was done within your organization over the past year to celebrate individual or team accomplishments? If you have to think too hard, then the answer is likely “not enough.” Consider the accomplishments of the past year and identify whether or not they were celebrated. If so, how? If not, why not and what could be done to ensure that future accomplishments are recognized and celebrated? Remember that recognition doesn’t have to be extravagant or expensive. Don’t underestimate the value and impact of a sincere and thoughtful gesture (verbal thank you, handwritten card or personalized gift etc.). Not sure how your team or employees like to be recognized? Ask and involve them in planning future celebrations.

Embrace Organizational Culture
Encourage your team to take the time to embrace the organizational culture! Remind them of the shared values and the bottom line of the business. What is that special piece of the organizational culture that you want your team to share? If your organization values humour, having fun or innovation, encourage your team to come together and share these values whether it is structured as a fun project, contest or a holiday get-together.

Plan for the Year Ahead
As you prepare to lead your team(s) into the New Year, be sure to reflect on the challenges, accomplishments, celebrations and culture of the past year in order to continue doing what you do well or make adjustments in order to achieve better results. As an HR professional, it is important to also take the time to focus on your personal growth and prepare a plan for yourself. Make a list of what you would like to achieve next year and set goals for yourself to get there. If there are areas of your career that you would like to better develop, plan to take some workshops or courses in that area or sign up for a mentorship or coaching program.

Regardless of how you plan for the year ahead, take time to reflect on recent challenges and accomplishments in order recognize successes and opportunities for continuous improvement. Be sure to appreciate those who work hard to contribute to the success of your business or organization and they will continue to do so into the future.

Ginger Brunner is a Certified Human Resource Professional (CHRP) and principal of Dynamic HR Solutions Inc., with over 20 years of management and human resources experience. In addition to developing and facilitating customized training programs for clients, Ginger is currently an instructor of three courses within the Leadership Development certificate program at Camosun College.

Jassica Dhillon-Bhullar is a Human Resources Coordinator and plays a key role in maintaining the daily operations of the Dynamic HR Solutions office as well as assisting their team of consultants and clients on various HR projects. In addition to also being a student in the BBA Human Resources program at Camosun College, Jassica is an active member and volunteer with the Human Resources Management Association and she is currently working towards acquiring the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.