Four Strategies for Startups to Finish the Year Strong

Second, plan ahead. Ensure that colleagues who are out of the office have identified team members who are accountable in their absence, especially if they will be unreachable by phone or e-mail. If you think you will need to bring in extra support, or outsource key functions, ensure it is part of your budget and end of year planning discussions.

Third, when it comes to your employees, and especially those who will be putting in long hours during the holiday season, help keep the morale high. Some businesses host memorable holiday parties to celebrate their employees. Others offer overtime payments or end of year bonus incentives. But sometimes, it’s the little things that count – like taking the time to give feedback and praise. Helping employees understand the role of their contribution in the overall success of the project and the company is important, all year round.

3. Set Expectations for the Next Year

In 2014, Alex Turnbull, CEO and founder of customer support startup Groove, shared his company’s 12-month growth strategy. Their ambitious goal was to have 5,000 new paying customers in one year. To accomplish that, they established a clear business plan, including specific strategies around blogging, building communities, and improving their product.

Twelve months later, the company admitted that although they hadn’t been able to meet their ambitious target, the process of clear goal-setting, well-communicated strategies, and sound execution enabled them to accomplish a whole lot in one year – 2,000 new customers, a stronger product, and a steady revenue stream. That’s a lot to be proud of.

As you look ahead, it is also important to review your organization’s goals and financial plan for the next 12 months, including budgets for headcount, sales, marketing, and IT. Along these lines, also think about how you can leverage existing resources better or more fully – such as deepening your relationships with partners who can help you reach new customers, or serve your existing customers better.

Your employees are your biggest assets, so also be sure to revisit your firm’s recruitment and retention plans. Brainstorm new ways for the organization to broaden its network to ensure you are hiring from the most qualified and diverse talent base. Also, don’t forget to invest in your existing employees. For example, every year, MetricStream hosts an annual Sales Kick Off, where hundreds of our sales leaders convene for an intensive week-long series of workshops and training programs around innovation, teamwork, and customer focus. Think about your own employees and the skills they need to be successful over the next year. What training or learning opportunities can you provide? If your industry doesn’t have an existing community or ample learning opportunities, how can your organization help fill the gap? That’s exactly what we did over a decade ago with ComplianceOnline.com, which has since grown to become one of the world’s leading GRC training and certification portals.

4. Clearly Communicate Business Objectives and Priorities

Making everyone aware of the company’s goals each year is critical. To that end, many organizations, including Google, use the Objectives and Key Results (OKR) system, pioneered by Intel. It’s a proven management technique that allows the company’s overarching objectives to roll down across the enterprise into smaller, measurable objectives and results. This helps ensure everyone is on the same page. So, if the company’s overarching objective is to acquire 10 customers by the end of next year, Marketing will focus on generating new leads, Sales will focus on closing deals, Product Development will focus on designing or enhancing a product that customers want, and Services will focus on going the extra mile to ensure customer delight and satisfaction.

The key throughout this entire process is effective communication. Develop objectives that are clear and measurable, and communicate regularly and consistently. Communication with the board is also critical as you plan for the next year. Clearly articulate how your objectives and plan will translate into shareholder value. Be transparent, and don’t be afraid to ask the board for help or advice. Raise the three or four things that the company has identified as potential risks, and encourage the board to weigh in with their perspective. Proactive and transparent discussions like this are critical to resolving challenges as well as pursuing new opportunities for growth.

Especially towards the end of the year, it can feel as though everything around you is moving at a frenzied pace. The end of the year always proves to be a critical inflection point. As a leader in your organization, challenge yourself to take a pause to assess the past, and look ahead to the future. Have a plan. Know what your focus areas are for the next twelve months, prioritize key tasks, and align your resources and your team. And then go out and execute. The companies that do well, plan well.