It’s that time of the year again. Many of us are looking back on the past year to assess it to determine what we could do better in 2019. While it’s important to take time to reflect on 2018, it’s just as important to dedicate a portion of our days to creating a business plan for 2019. If you’re unsure of where to begin, outlining a list of New Year’s resolutions is a good start — and there are some you should consider adding to your list.
Ask Yourself: ‘What If?’
Many of us have struggled with goal setting (I know I have). To help us overcome our collective fear of failure, back in June, at Schnizzfest, Mike Rayburn challenged us to ask the following question when setting business goals: “What if?” Instead of limiting ourselves with attainable goals, what if we challenged ourselves by setting goals outside of our own comfort zones? How do you think this mindset would change our businesses?
From experience, I learned the following: The right mindset keeps you in line with goals.
Be a leader, not a manager
With the unemployment rate under 4%, quality employees are hard to find, so retaining top talent is more important than ever. One of the best ways to accomplish this — besides having well-defined roles within your organization — is by being a leader, not a manager. Unlike managers, leaders ensure their employees are in positions to reach their full potentials. What else do successful leaders do? Top leaders also share strong visions and core values with employees and help team members become leaders in their own ways. In the new year, redefine yourself as a leader by becoming someone your employees look up to and trust, and they’ll follow you along your business journey.
Keep track of your “unique client touches”
How often are you interacting with your clients? We at TruMethods call certain client interactions “unique client touches,” and it’s your vCIO’s responsibility to keep track of each one. In order to successfully develop high-value strategic partnerships with your clients, your vCIO should be determining the ideal interaction frequency for each of your clients on an ongoing basis. Remember: Every client is different. If your vCIO hasn’t been keeping track of unique client touches, it’s time to reassess your strategy in 2019.
Become a functional area
In the coming year, do your best to understand how your customers perceive you. Do they consider you to be integral to their businesses, or are you just another expense item, tucked away under SG&A? The MSP model as you know it isn’t the future, and to evolve as an IT provider, you need to ensure you’re seen as a strategic partner. How can you get the ball rolling in the right direction in 2019? Make it a point in the new year to question your customers about their business goals, challenges, and opportunities.
Build a value-based TSP
Around this time last year, we at TruMethods introduced the TSP model and explained why it would be the way of the future for IT providers. While building a value-based TSP takes time, the sooner you begin, the better off you’ll be in the long run. To make the necessary shift from MSP to TSP, take the following steps in the coming year: focus on business results, uncover technical risk and reduce reactive time. Remember this: Shifting your entire business to the TSP model doesn’t happen overnight, but what you can change immediately — and before the new year— is your mindset, so begin today.
In the new year, if you stick to your New Year’s resolutions, your business will continue to grow and prosper.