| Taking a moment to ponder the events of 2023 is a wonderful way to acknowledge both its triumphs and challenges. This exercise not only shapes our recollection of the year but also reinforces the invaluable lessons we’ve learned along the way.
**Year-End Review**
For the first time last year, my team and I dedicated a few minutes to look back on our journey as the year drew to a close, and it turned out to be a truly enjoyable experience. Here is how we do it:
1. First, I summarize each quarter’s activities by going over each project that was started, ongoing, and successfully completed. We pause briefly as I go through the list to collectively celebrate our achievements, highlight pivotal growth moments, and acknowledge events that strengthened our team bonds.
2. After every quarter, we take turns sharing a proud moment as well as one that we feel could’ve gone better. We celebrate the milestones we crossed, the shared lessons we learned, and the instances when we came to each other’s aid.
3. We close with expressing gratitude. Each team member has an opportunity to share their thanks, and sometimes even offer small tokens of appreciation. Gratitude extends beyond our team to include client gestures, vendors, and even that new coffee machine that kept us going on cold winter mornings.
This process of bidding farewell to the year in this manner shapes our future recollections. By digesting, reflecting, and celebrating together, we strengthen our bonds as a team.
**Year-Ahead Review**
Discussing the future with my team is a personal highlight. I enjoy sharing my vision, expand our imagination, and lay the groundwork for everyone’s fulfillment. Below is the format we follow for our year-ahead review:
1. We kick off by having each team member write down the top three objectives they wish to achieve in the upcoming year on a piece of paper. These papers are then circulated, and everyone assigns points to each other’s goals on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 representing the highest priority. The top four goals make it onto our project board for 2024, while the rest are added to our project backlog.
2. We allocate each project, whether carried over from the current year or selected in the previous step, to a specific quarter in the upcoming year.
3. Each project is assigned to a team member who will act as the lead responsible for managing and advancing it. We begin by soliciting volunteers to ensure an even distribution of workload.
4. We review the remaining projects in the backlog to see if any can be moved onto the standby list for upcoming quarters.
5. We then spend 10 minutes in silence as everyone reviews what lies ahead in the coming year. At the end of this period, each team member has the opportunity to voice their areas of excitement or concern. This is their chance to seek assistance and share anything on their minds. We make any necessary adjustments before finalizing the plan.
6. We conclude the year-ahead review with a 3-minute visual I share, depicting where we envision ourselves at the same time next year. This helps us create a mental image of our collective journey as a team.
Additionally, we conduct a project realignment review every quarter, which follows a simpler format to ensure that we stay on course.
These meetings have played a pivotal role in fostering a sense of shared accomplishment in our daily victories as a team, while also unleashing the deeper potential for collaboration. While I’ve presented this article from a business perspective, this format can easily be adapted to your personal life. Taking a moment to reflect on the past year and plan for the one that’s on the horizon can be a great way to connect, communicate, and align with your loved ones.
Whatever your hopes, goals, and dreams may be, they are well within reach. With unwavering determination, meticulous planning, and adept execution, you’ll find that luck plays a minimal role in achieving them. I have faith in your capabilities.
Wishing you a Happy New Year!
– Burak Sarac, Team Lead
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