31/12/2024
Cut down on the motivational videos and lock into goals for 2025.
Let’s get one thing straight: This is your year. Why 2025, you ask? Because we’re officially halfway through the decade and in the midst of huge change. New technology is everywhere. It’s on your computers, it’s in your businesses, it’s in your soup. But do you know how to use it all? And can you harness its power in your sustainable business resolutions for the new year?
Speaking on behalf of a world-leading college, I know a few things about setting achievable business goals. But you might not be ready. Let me explain.
Why are business resolutions important for success in 2025?
I don’t think business resolutions matter too much. That’s because most people don’t implement them properly. It’s all very well writing out your aims, but you need to act on them. However, actually taking the time to write out your business resolutions could be key for success in 2025. Here’s how:
Sense of direction: “If a man knows not which port he sails, no wind is favorable.” You just got hit with some Roman Stoicism. But it’s true. The simple act of setting direction for your company can keep your team focused on priorities.
Lifts performance: You set a goal, you put your energy into it, and you’ll see specific stats lift. Setting business resolutions sets the roadmap to key improvements.
Holds you to account: Your business new year’s resolutions are the yardstick. They matter because you can hold yourself accountable once the motivation mood has shifted. That puts a rocket up your team’s backside, too.
Shifts to the long term: You sit down, you outline your goals and suddenly you have time to think ten years ahead. How often do you do that, really? Making a list of new year resolutions forces you to look beyond short-term impacts and plan for the bigger picture.
How can businesses set achievable goals for the new year?
First, sit yourself down. Pick up a pen or boot up your laptop. Then use the following criteria to set a list of new year resolutions for achievable goals. We’ll be delving into the secrets to business success and sustainability, so don’t get destracted.
Reflect, reflect, reflect
Evaluating your company’s performance from last year. Grab your pen or open up that spreadsheet and take a close look at your successes. What worked? What didn’t? Focus on your key performance indicators (KPIs), financial metrics, customer feedback, and even input from your team. This isn’t just about patting yourself on the back—it’s about spotting the gaps. Where did things fall short? Turn those challenges into valuable lessons. These insights will be your guide, helping you set smarter, more focused goals for the year ahead. Keep your eyes on the prize!
Be SMART, dummy
Apply the SMART criteria—your goals should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Don’t settle for vague goals like “increase sales.” Get detailed—try something like, “boost sales by 10% in Q1 through targeted marketing campaigns.” Now, here’s the key: Prioritize. Don’t overwhelm yourself with a long list of resolutions. Choose a few high-impact goals that will truly push your business forward. Focus on what matters most, and avoid spreading your efforts too thin. Let’s make every resolution count!
Measure your milestones
Alright, it’s time to put your plan into action. Track progress by breaking each resolution into smaller, measurable milestones or tasks. This keeps you on course and makes it easier to adjust when things aren’t going as planned. Next, review regularly. Set a routine for checking in—whether monthly or quarterly. These check-ins ensure you stay accountable, and give you the flexibility to tweak your strategy if you need to course-correct. Stay on top of it, and keep moving forward!
Get real
Check your resources—time, budget, and manpower. If you’re short, either tweak your goals or line up what you need. And stay adaptable. Markets change fast, so have a backup plan ready to pivot and adjust your goals on the fly. Flexibility is your superpower—be ready to roll with it!
What are some examples of effective business resolutions for 2025?
1. Increase your market share: Expand into three new geographic markets by the end of the year.
2. Boost customer retention: Improve customer retention rate by 5% by offering loyalty programs.
3. Enhance employee satisfaction: Increase employee engagement scores by 20% through wellness programs and career development opportunities.
4. Improve operational efficiency: Reduce production costs by 5% through process automation.
How can I be more sustainable with business resolutions?
Making your business more sustainable involves adopting practices that reduce environmental impact, promote social responsibility, and ensure long-term economic viability. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help businesses become more sustainable:
1. Be honest about how you’re doing
First things first—take a good, hard look at your current practices. Check out everything from energy use to waste, supply chains, and how your team operates. Time to spot the places where you can seriously level up your sustainability game. Next, let’s get real—measure that environmental impact! Track your carbon footprint, energy, water, and waste like a boss. Grab some carbon calculators and get those numbers. It’s time to make your data work for you!
2. Dial down the energy consumption
Let’s get energy-smart! Start by swapping out those old bulbs for LED lighting, and upgrade to energy-efficient appliances and machinery that don’t guzzle power. Next, if you can swing it, go renewable—think solar, wind, or geothermal. Maybe even slap some solar panels on your office roof! And don’t stop there—set up smart building systems to control heating, cooling, and lighting. Let tech do the heavy lifting and cut down on waste.
3. Lessen waste
Time to minimize waste—cut down, reuse, and recycle like it’s second nature. Ditch the paper trail and go digital, plus recycle those packaging materials. Next up, jump into the circular economy—reuse or repurpose materials to keep new raw stuff to a minimum. And if you’re in the food game, compost your organic waste to keep it out of landfills. It’s all about making less mess and doing more with what you’ve got!
4. Look at your supply
Let’s get ethical with your sourcing! Choose suppliers who walk the sustainable talk—think recycled materials, less packaging, and fair labor practices. When you can, go local to cut down on that pesky carbon footprint from long-haul shipping. And don’t forget to team up with suppliers who have the certifications that prove they’re doing right by people and the planet—Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, you name it. Sustainable sourcing is the way to go!
5. Hype up your team
Let’s turn your team into sustainability superheroes! Educate them on the power of reducing waste, conserving resources, and making eco-friendly transport choices. The more they know, the more they can contribute. And hey, reward their efforts—offer incentives or recognition for those going the extra mile on sustainability, whether it’s cutting office waste, carpooling, or volunteering for green causes. Make sustainability a team effort and watch everyone rise to the challenge!
Who cares about sustainability?
I do. And so do your customers. And so do your employees, probably. Counting myself out, these are some pretty important stakeholders. Your problem may be that you’re not ready to make these changes because you have so many other urgent challenges to address. How can you go sustainable if you’re not even making a profit? How can you sit down to write a list of sustainable business resolutions if you’re still catching up on deadlines from November? These are real issues. But we may have a solution.
Get better at your job
I don’t doubt your ability. In fact, you’re probably very successful in your own right. But I know a way for you to get better: IE University. We’re talking about specializing with a master’s program that’s focused on industry-relevant teaching. It’s the most prestigious college in Madrid and it attracts students from all over the world every single year. It’s not only a big career move, but it’s also an irreplaceable experience. Don’t believe me? Read a testimonial or two from our blog and you’ll see how important an education at IE University has been to our graduates.
And if you don’t have time to take off from your studies, we have hybrid master’s programs that you can do from home with several residential periods across the world so you don’t miss out. Young professional? Experienced executive? We have sustainable business masters across every field.
Don’t wait
Fill in our form below and you’ll get a fast, in-depth report on everything we can offer you at IE University. It costs you nothing and it could win you everything. We hope to hear from you soon.
