It’s a brand new year, which means it’s a great time to take a look back at what we’ve achieved over the past 12 months and determine what things we’d like to accomplish during the coming year. Beyond the obvious, like business growth and increasing profits, property management leaders should also be looking at ways to stretch, grow and improve on how they lead their teams. That being said, here are seven actionable leadership goals to help make 2017 your most successful year yet.

Clarify and Communicate More

Do you want your employees to strive for greatness? Help them get there by clearly defining objectives, setting specific expectations and then keeping the lines of honest communication open at all times. Over the coming months, make these things a priority and you will not only see a marked improvement on how those working for you perform, but you will in turn realize a boost in your own performance as well.

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Listen Better

Along with better communication should come improved listening skills. As a leader, it’s easy to become caught up in all of the complex items on your own to-do list, but it’s important not to lose sight of the value of feedback. It’s how we grow and improve – as individuals, as teams and as organizations. Make 2017 the year when you truly listen to what your employees have to say and use that information to create a better workplace.

Be a Mentor

You’ve worked hard to become the successful business leader you are today. Isn’t it time to pass along some of that knowledge and experience to help someone else grow as well? Over the next couple weeks, challenge yourself to identify one or two team members who you believe have the greatest potential and then commit to mentoring them over the next 12 months. It’s something everyone will benefit from.

Recognize and Celebrate

If you want to bring your organization to the next level in 2017, focus on achieving greater balance in how you lead. Remember – it’s not just about correcting and coaching, it’s also about recognizing a job well done. Be on the lookout for opportunities to thank your employees and celebrate victories (even small ones).

Innovate and Create

There’s always room for innovation in this industry, so why not let the person who leads that charge be you? As you prepare to take on the usual problems that arise year after year, push yourself to come up with new and better ways to do things. And don’t stop there. Work on creating an entire culture of innovation within your property management company.

Be a Better Example

Whatever it is that you preach to your employees, make sure you’re exemplifying those things in your own day to day interactions. Start by sharing a few of your leadership goals with your team and demonstrating throughout the year exactly what you are doing to achieve those goals. By seeing you put your words into action, your workers will be inspired to do the same in turn.

Learn Something New

In a busy industry such as property management, it can be challenging to find the time to pursue learning and personal development opportunities. But improving yourself will only help you become an even better leader, so make it a point to learn something new in the New Year, even if it’s as simple as attending a webinar or industry conference.

Setting goals is an important part of strong, effective leadership. In addition to providing your team with a clear plan for the future, defining specific things that you can strive for in your own career is equally important. What are your action steps for the coming months? We’d love to hear about them.