KEY POINTS:
New Zealand businesses need to shake themselves off the holiday mode and hit the ground running when they come back to the office this January.
Business commentators say in the current economic climate employers can't afford to lose a day of business, so the "she'll be right"
attitude has to go.
Australian business planning expert Merv Neal, who will be running
presentations in New Zealand in January, says too many businesses cruise
through the summer, not knuckling down until February or even March,
and in doing so waste valuable time and money.
Part of the problem in New Zealand and Australia is the laidback approach to business that stems from being isolated from other markets, Neal says.
Where businesses in New Zealand wind down in December and don't hit full
swing again until February, European businesses generally only close for two weeks and then stride right back into it when the holiday season is over.
"We have a culture which is unique but which doesn't put us at the
forefront of business in the world," Neal says.
But he says businesses Downunder are yet to feel the full effect of the global credit crisis and cannot keep believing physical isolation will protect them.
"There's still a wave coming and we have to be ready for it.
"We can't afford to lose a day of business."
He says employers and employees come up with a host of excuses as to why they can't charge straight into business in the new year - the customers are on holiday, the staff are on holiday, the kids aren't back
at school, it's too hot.
However, implementing a clear business plan can prevent costly
procrastination.
Only 20 per cent of the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) Neal works with have a written plan, but he says they are vital to getting ahead in the new year.
Plans need to include goals that all members of the company can picture
and be motivated to work towards.
Brien Keegan, business manager at Link recruitment, says a lack of
back-to-work motivation is generated by both employers and employees.
Employers should look at creating the right culture and climate in the office, they should help staff with goal-setting starting from the first day back at work and they should manage their employees' and their
own accountability.
Keegan says: "It's about creating a high-performance culture".
Businesses that ensure sales staff, for example, have all their meetings and sales strategies organised before they start the new year, will begin the year stronger than their competitors, Keegan says.
And employees who show they are motivated and start the year strong
stand more chance of holding their place if the company is forced to make staff redundant in the near future.
"In this climate it pays to be ahead of the game," Keegan says.