2024: Plan for What’s Most Important
John Houston - Chief Executive Officer
As we head into a new year, making goals and plans to continue developing the people around us in our businesses is natural. So, as you’re looking to invest in your team this year, I thought I would share a few events and opportunities that have worked well for us.
First, lay the groundwork with yourself.
I always start with me. I take inventory of how I’m doing in my priority areas. Maybe you’d like to take a few minutes and think through these questions for yourself.
Spiritually and personally-
● How is my relationship with God?
● Am I prioritizing time with Him?
● Am I taking care of myself? (We’re better equipped to serve God’s purposes when our bodies are healthy and functioning well)
Family and relationships-
● Am I communicating value to the people around me?
● Are my personal relationships healthy and growing?
● Have I been communicating our vision effectively? My responsibility is to hear how God is directing us and then share that well with our executive team, leaders, and employees.
Then, get the team involved.
Once I have taken stock of where I am, what God’s showing me, and how to respond, I can focus on setting our team up for success this year. In addition to everyday workflows, goals, and meetings, we do a few things to invest in our employees.
1. Retreats
-We plan and participate in several types of retreats throughout the year. It’s essential to get away from our office responsibilities and connect relationally with our coworkers – these people we spend so much time with.
● Executive Retreat
-We build relationships, talk through pressing issues, and strategize and cast vision for the year during this time with our executive team. I am vulnerable and transparent with this team; they help keep me accountable. In turn, I expect them to replicate this servant leadership model with their teams.
● Leadership Retreat
-This is a larger retreat with all our top-level leaders. Again, it’s critical to relax and enjoy each other’s company. We set a loose schedule, but the main focus is relationship building and clarifying our vision and execution for our top-level leaders.
● Marriage Retreats
- (This faith-informed retreat is an optional offering for our employees who are married) We offer 1-2 marriage retreats a year for couples to get away and invest in their marriages with values and principles based on God’s Word.
● Mens/Womens Retreats
- (These retreats also have a spiritual emphasis – which are always optional offerings for our employees) These retreats allow our employees to rest, connect, and receive biblical teaching and principles.
2. Staff fun
We’ve found our work is most fruitful when our workplace relationships are strong. We plan for fun to encourage employees to get to know each other.
● Staff picnic (families)
This family event includes music, games, food, and more. We get to see and interact with each other’s families, and it’s always a great time.
● Fair Day (employees only)
We close the offices for one day every year to go to the Texas State Fair together. The company supplies lunch, admission, and tickets. We eat together, have fun and competitions, and then let everyone go out to enjoy the fair with their coworkers.
● Staff Christmas Party (couples and spouses)
Our team looks forward to enjoying a meal together, games, and entertainment. We do a raffle and drawings for prizes. We’ll often have a theme, and employees dress up and get it on the fun.
3. Time for what’s most important
We communicate to our team that how they prioritize their lives is so important. We encourage them to prioritize God, family, and then work. We encourage them by giving them time to invest in these areas.
● Time for spiritual growth (all of these are voluntary)
-We offer corporate prayer times.
-We have a chaplain available to pray and offer support during times of need.
-We offer groups focused on leadership, personal, and spiritual enrichment.
-Each employee receives an additional two days off a year to participate in the optional retreats I mentioned above.
-We offer mission trips and outreaches and supply three additional days off for participation.
● Time for family, rest, and personal growth
-We divide our employees into two groups during the summer and allow each group to rotate, taking every other Friday off. This provides relief for those families with school-aged children home for the summer and allows for more space for rest and vacations.
As you are heading into 2024, I pray you can clearly discern God’s plan for you and your team. How can you implement times of investment this year?