With two months left in Q4, many tech leaders feel the pressure to deliver on ambitious goals, to wrap up key projects, and to meet annual targets. This can be super stressful.
I know it is because I felt this stress multiple times, especially in my first couple of years in the position. It can feel completely chaotic and overwhelming: deadlines, budget reviews, surprise talent departures...
But with time I learned that with more foresight and a well-structured strategy, there’s no reason for such stress. This time of year can even become an opportunity to strengthen your position and set the stage for future growth.
Here at Smartexe, we’ve been trying to improve and optimize year-end processes for our managers throughout the last decade. We made them more effective and are making sure we don’t just focus on meeting targets but also on preparing for the next year’s success.
Read this and you’ll be able to achieve similar success:
1. Review, Reevaluate, and Set Expectations Straight
Assess Progress: Take a step back to evaluate your team's achievements against the current year's objectives. Review the year's objectives and see which milestones were hit, which are still pending, and what impact your completed projects have had. Is the remaining scope reasonable?
Adjust Course: Based on your assessment, tweak your roadmap. Focus on making impactful changes that resonate with your overall goals. It’s key to be flexible—sometimes this might involve reallocating resources from less critical projects to those that have higher immediate value.
Communicate Changes: Once adjustments are made, make sure you clearly articulate the rationale to your team and other stakeholders (internal and external). Transparent communication builds trust, and in my experience, this openness can also lead to smoother transitions and higher team morale.
2. Focus on High-Impact Projects
Prioritize Wisely: Concentrate resources on projects that will yield the most significant benefits in the shortest timeframe. This might mean temporarily shelving less critical initiatives. But this might also bring a better outcome than initially planned. For example, this year's advancements in AI can allow you to reach better results in less time.
Enhance Resource Allocation: Make sure the most impactful projects receive the necessary talent, budget, and support. For example, reassigning a senior developer to an important project during a crunch period can help you meet an impossible deadline.
3. Invest in Team Morale
Acknowledge Achievements: Publicly recognizing your team’s hard work is one of the simplest yet most powerful motivators [Check our article to find how to do it right - Employee recognition in tech teams]. For example, sincere and thoughtful “thank yous” during weekly meetings have helped me maintain the morale of my executive team and improve engagement.
Wellness and Work-Life Balance: Encourage your team to prioritize self-care during high-stress periods. Offering flexible working hours, extra time off, or wellness initiatives can reduce burnout. It’s not a success if you fulfill all goals, but end up with core team members leaving you in January.
4. Talk to Your Internal and/or External Clients
Schedule check-ins with key clients and stakeholders to discuss their evolving needs, provide updates on your projects, and gather feedback. Share your vision for the upcoming year, especially if you're looking for their buy-in on future projects.
This can set expectations straight, avoid conflicts and, in some cases, ensure support and/or contract renewal for next year.
5. Plan for the Unexpected
Conduct a Quick Risk Audit: Identify potential year-end risks (e.g., supply chain disruptions, talent loss) and develop contingency plans. Having a plan in place for a potential supplier delay saved me from a critical project halt, multiple times.
Cybersecurity Review: Given the increase in cyber threats during holiday periods, reinforce your cybersecurity measures to protect your organization's assets. A preemptive security audit two years ago uncovered vulnerabilities that would almost certainly fail us during December.
6. Don’t Forget the Next Year
Strategic Planning Sessions: Schedule sessions with your core team to outline next year’s objectives, ensuring a seamless return after the holidays. Use this session to identify growth areas, explore new technologies, and plan key projects that will drive long-term success.
Budgeting and Resource Planning: Still don’t have the budget ready for the next year? You better hurry up. Consider new projects, talent acquisition, technological advancements, and other restraints. Don’t forget, the tools required to meet next year’s goals and any new projects that require additional funding. By finalizing your budget early, you can ensure that you’re fully prepared to tackle new initiatives without delay.
Ready to finish the year strong? Start with these tips, and watch your team flourish into the new year.
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