What's Your Theme For The Year?

Last year I started a new tradition. The tradition is picking a theme for the year. I must admit that this is not my idea. I heard it on Oprah several years ago and truly thought it was a wonderful idea. Her show featured a group of friends who engaged in picking and communicating a new theme for each year. The friends raved about how different each year was for them as they picked a new word that they would let guide the decisions they made and activities they prioritized throughout the year.

I'll share with you in a moment what my theme was for last year and what the new word is that I picked for this year. But first I want you to think about how you can extend this activity into your workplace. Think about picking a word and communicating it with your staff or at your next staff meeting have everyone pick a word and communicate it and then brainstorm for ways that everyone can incorporate their theme into the work they do everyday.

Last year my theme word was CONNECTION. I let that word guide my decisions and help me select activities that would help me live my life in a way that helped me make connections. I made old connections with a group of my eighth-grade friends and this weekend we're all going out for dinner! I made new connections through joining a Bunco Group and attending networking events and tele-conferences.

The really exciting part is that the actions I took last year will carry over into huge blessings for me for years to come.

This year I decided on the word PASSION. This year I will do what I do with more passion, make decisions that I am passionate about, love my family more passionately and share more of my passion as I help leaders manage, motivate and retain great staff. I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing as the year progresses!

To keep in line with my theme of passion I redesigned my website to have a more passionate feeling. I included my husband in the design and he was free to incorporate his passion for art. Check it out! Visit my new more passionate site at http://www.LCforCC.com. The new header and buttons include Tom's watercolors.

As you progress into this New Year, think about a theme word that will fill your heart and help you personally and professionally feel motivated and inspired. As a leader, the more fulfilled you are, the more fulfilled your staff will be. There's a natural yet dynamic energy that's transferred from you to your staff when you are motivated. This energy gives you a greater ability to manage, motivate and retain great staff.

When you get your staff involved with picking a theme, you'll have an ability to tap into what's important to them and help them find that fulfillment in the workplace. So when they share with you their theme - write it down. Then find ways to support it and incorporate it on a professional level.

© 2010 Julie Bartkus. All Rights Reserved.

Julie Bartkus is a staff motivation expert and the creator of "The Staff Motivation and Retention System. She helps leaders of small to mid-sized teams create the positive and productive workplaces that they desire and deserve. Through her workshops, courses, coaching programs, and products, Julie shows her clients how to eliminate the destructive communication patterns (such as workplace GOSSIP) and mindsets that keep their teams stuck.

If staff motivation issues are draining you of your time and energy, visit: www.JulieBartkus.com or call 1.800.211.5671 for information on private coaching and on-site team and leadership retreats. Get your FREE CD on Staff Motivation by visiting www.JulieBartkus.com.

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Julie's New Theme, January 10, 2011

By Julie - See all my comment or reviews    

Hello!

My new theme for this year is letting go. My business is growing in so many new and exciting directions that I need to find ways to let go. This will include lots of affirmations like "I am thankful that I am surrounded by quality, self motivated people who are truly there for me." It's easy to retreat back and hang on to every little detail and not let go and think negative, draining thoughts.

Also - this is my son's last year of high school. I will be letting go and supporting the decisions that he makes regarding college and other life decisions.

I look forward to hearing about your theme!

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