New year, new team plans

If you’re riding the wave of fresh energy that comes with a new year, you’re not alone! Behavioural science even has a name for it, the “Fresh Start Effect”.

We see it everywhere in the workplace, whether it’s sparked by an office move, a new financial quarter, or someone joining the team with fresh ideas. While New Year’s Day might feel like a distant memory, many businesses stay buzzing with that “new year, new plans” energy well into February.

But how can you make the most of the momentum and set your business and team up for success that lasts all through 2025? Of course, there is no one size fits all, but we've put together 3 elements to think about when it comes to your people plans.

1. Align your people plans with your business goals.

If you’ve been brainstorming business ideas and setting bigger and better goals for 2025, now’s the time to think about how your team is going to support your vision.

It’s a simple but often overlooked step. Too often, departmental strategies get started without aligning to the bigger picture. Any people and culture strategy needs to complement your overall business plans.

We like to start by reviewing your organisation’s structure and identifying the people resources you’ll need over the next 1–5 years to achieve your goals. If this is something you’re doing in-house you can start by asking questions like, what capabilities will we need to develop as a team? Do we have the right roles in place? Will we need to hire anyone new?

2. Make sure your team values support your vision.  

Team values are more than buzzwords on a page! They help guide your team to make decisions that align with your north star and are super helpful tools to explain and set expectations around how you want to work and the team culture you’re creating.

Values set the tone for how your team works, collaborates, and grows together. Now’s a great time to revisit them. Ask, Are they still relevant? Are they reflected in how your team operates day to day? If not, it might be time for a refresh or to develop them if you don't have team values in place.

3. Support your team to succeed.

Most of us stick to our goals longer when we’ve got the right resources and support. Your team is no different! Are there any tools or resources that your team might need to work more effectively? How can ongoing skill development be supported?  Does everyone on the team have the training they need to succeed?

One area we often see businesses needing support in is leadership training. The people who are managing a team are often the backbone of your operations, playing a key role in keeping things running smoothly. By investing in their confidence and leadership skills, you’ll equip them to manage effectively which can have a big impact to your business overall.  

We’re here to help!

If you’re looking for a HR Partner to work through your strategy with, or develop one for you, contact our team of resourceful humans! We also collaborate with teams to deep dive and develop team values and can work with you if you’d like to roll out leadership training for your managers.