5 Questions for Big-Picture Managers in 2013

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in the day-to-day activities of managing and lose sight of the bigger picture. The beginning of a new year provides a natural break for you to take a deep breath and consider how to make 2013 a success, says Oswald, CEO of BLR, who offered his thoughts in a recent edition of The Oswald Letter.

Here are five questions you can ask yourself that will help you focus on what’s important in the new year:

1. What are the company’s top three initiatives for 2013? If you don’t know, go find out. What is the business trying to accomplish this year? As a leader you need to know the answer to this question so you can determine how your team can contribute to the overall business goals. It’s important that you align your department’s objectives with those of the company. You can do that only if you know for certain what the top initiatives are for the year.

2. What are the top three initiatives for my department? Again, if you know the answer to the first question, it will help you determine what your department must do for the company to succeed. Aligning your department’s goals with those of the company will help your team understand how they are contributing to the company’s overall success. Set your departmental goals early, and make them visible for everyone. Remind people how they’re contributing to the company’s success.

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3. What are five new ways we can drive value to the organization? Brainstorm a bit. Answering the first two questions will help you get on board with the overall direction of the organization, but asking and answering this question will help you think about new initiatives that can help move the organization forward.

• What can your team do that will drive the business to be better in 2013?
• What new things can you try that could open a new revenue stream or improve the level of service?
• Don’t wait for someone else to come up with the next great idea. Work with your team, and challenge them to push the envelope.

4. Who are the top five people in my department, and what are they working on? Are your best people working on the projects that have the potential to provide the greatest value to the organization? Knowing who your top performers are and matching them with the tasks that are most critical to the success of the business is a great way to maximize the productivity of your department.

Too often we fall into a routine and fail to move our best people into new roles that can really drive business results. Reassessing your people and the projects they work on could result in some real incremental results.

5. Am I communicating effectively? This is a big question and one you need to answer honestly. Consider all audiences with whom you communicate. Are you communicating effectively with your direct reports, your peers, and up the chain? Do others have the information they need from you to do their jobs? Your role as a communicator depends on the audiences you’re trying to reach, but make no mistake—a manager must be an effective communicator. Consider your strengths and weaknesses as a communicator, and set out to improve on the areas where you’re challenged.

Hit the Reset Button

It’s great that we get to hit the reset button every 12 months. As 2013 kicks off, make sure you take the time to consider how you can make this year even better than the last. Ask yourself these five questions to separate yourself from the daily grind and focus on the bigger picture for a while.

I know that sometimes sitting back and reflecting can make it seem like you’re not accomplishing much. You have a stack of papers on your desk, your e-mail inbox is overflowing, and that incessant message light on your phone is blinking. But put it all aside for a while and answer these five questions. It will help you better understand how you can really make a difference in 2013. Good luck!