Likely, many of the goals that you had at the beginning of the year fell by the wayside as you were forced to deal with the continuing global pandemic. While all industries suffered from uncertainties, the construction industry was hit especially hard. Projects were put on hold, disrupted the supply chain, and employees left the workforce.
So, what does this mean when planning for the year to come, when so much is still unknown? You might be wondering if it even makes sense to make goals, and if so, how should they be adjusted to make sense within this “new normal”?
In this article, we will look at some of the criteria that you should consider when reflecting upon this past year and planning for the next.
Stay Increasingly Flexible
First and foremost, it is important to be realistic. There is a chance that more lockdowns and restrictions will be implemented. Many of your office employees might need to work remotely (when possible). And resources could face continued delays. The hiring process is also likely to continue to face challenges for the foreseeable future. When planning for the future, take these unknowns into account, giving yourself longer timelines than usual.
Define Your Priorities
Given the current environment, it is best to focus your attention on one or two specific goals. Make sure that you specify exactly what is required for your goal to be considered complete. This includes having a clear timeframe or end date. This will help you stay focused and on schedule. Without having all of these finer points laid out, daily tasks are likely to pop up and steal away your attention and resources, time and time again.
Create Measurable Goals
Having a clearly defined goal means nothing if you cannot measure your progress. Having key performance indicators (KPIs) will not only help you know whether you are on the way to accomplishing your goal, but it will also help you stay accountable and motivated. It is critical that you identify these KPIs early on and inform the relevant parties so that you actively measure them along the way.
Before you start on the process of creating next year’s goals, take some time to reflect on the past twelve months. What worked very well for your construction company? What could use some additional work? While the pandemic has certainly caused upset for basically every single organization, it also has likely illuminated areas of opportunity.
