The end of the year is the perfect time for business owners to reflect on the growth of their business in the last twelve months. It can help to shape the following months, as every experience in a new business can be a learning opportunity.

We’ve discussed making new resolutions for a new year, but it’s also important to make a checklist as you look back on your year, not just forward. Here are four things to include in your end-of-the-year checklist:

1. 12-month business plan

Evaluate how your business plan has been going so far and what changes could be made to improve your business over the course of the next year. Be specific in your monthly goals. We’ve talked about setting S.M.A.R.T goals in the past (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) so be sure to do the same thing when organizing your business plan.

2. Performance reviews

I would definitely encourage sitting down with your employees and having performance reviews more often than once a year (I would suggest quarterly reviews), but the end of the year is the perfect time to conduct one of those reviews. It’s the perfect time to discuss with your staff members the progress each of you have seen over the course of the last 12 months.

You can discuss the goals they made at the beginning of the year and the progress they’ve seen, along with what types of goals they want to set for the year to come.

3. Creative projects

The end of the year can be a stressful time for anyone, but no one more than the business owner. Planning projects that allow you to express your creativity and get those juices flowing is a great way to refresh and re-engage your passions. But you have to be deliberate in setting aside specific time in your day to make it happen!

It can be all too easy to let these types of projects slip when you get busy. You lose sight of your own well-being while you focus on the well-being of your company. Creative projects can help bring those two back in line.

4. Celebrate the year with your staff

Wherever you were twelve months ago and wherever you are now, you have your employees to thank. They shared your vision and helped move your business forward and realize that vision. So, celebrate it! Celebrate them. During performance reviews, you can acknowledge the personal progress of each staff member, but you can also take advantage of opportunities to celebrate the team as a whole.

Taking this time to celebrate together can also help to create even more unity among the team and set the perfect mood to take with you into the new year.

As we prepare to welcome in 2019, be sure to celebrate 2018 first. No matter what struggles you may have faced, you can take them as opportunities to spring you forward and become even better in the year to come.