The beginning of the year is an ideal time to step back from the day to day operations of your business and make space to tick a few important items off your list. Here are 10 practical tasks that will help you begin 2026 on the right foot.
Strategic Planning
Review the strategic objectives you set for your business last year. Did you meet your goals? If not, what got in the way? What can you adjust this year to ensure you achieve your strategic aims? Are there new priorities you want to add? This is a great area to discuss with your TAB coach for guidance and accountability.
Personal Planning
Many people make New Year’s resolutions, but the start of the year is also valuable for a bit of reflection, especially around work life balance. Consider whether your business is giving you the lifestyle and personal satisfaction you want. If it is falling short, what needs to change? Your TAB board members can be a powerful sounding board when exploring these questions.
Revenues
Some Australian businesses experience a surge over the summer period. If that is you, bookmark this and come back later. For everyone else, now is the time to identify opportunities to maximise revenue in 2026. Put yourself in your customers’ shoes and consider what matters most to them right now. Are they concerned about tighter budgets and open to value driven offers? What problems are on their to do list that you can help solve?
Budgeting
If you have not completed your 2026 budget yet, there is no better time to finalise it. A well considered budget is essential for healthy cash flow and informed decision making.
It also helps to understand how your competitors may be budgeting for the year ahead, particularly in marketing, sales and staffing. Many small businesses in Australia are increasing their digital marketing spend, including website improvements, social media activity and email marketing. If your competitors are investing in these areas, you may need to allocate accordingly to remain competitive.
Customers
The new year is the perfect opportunity to thank your customers. Holiday cards are common, but a New Year card or message of appreciation is far less expected and can make you stand out. You might also invite customers to complete a short survey to uncover how you can support them better in 2026. Focus on identifying their challenges rather than running a simple satisfaction survey.
Advice from TAB member Tracy Fisher:
“Every time you speak with a customer, ask if they have any unfulfilled needs. This simple step helps your business identify new products or services that could complement what you already offer.”
Operations
The start of the year is a great time to tidy up your business systems using the principles of 5S. This approach, which began in Japan, is now used worldwide to improve workplace organisation and efficiency.
The five S’s are Sort, Straighten, Shine, Standardise and Sustain.
Applying these steps to your work areas results in cleaner, more efficient spaces that support staff productivity. While it originated in manufacturing, 5S works just as well in offices, workshops and any environment where clutter builds up. There are plenty of 5S resources available online to help you get started.
Employees
Are you entering 2026 with the right team in place? Employees are your biggest asset, and you likely already know whether someone is not contributing as they should. Staff changes can be sensitive, but it is important to ensure your business is supported by people who help you reach your goals.
Projects
Review your ongoing projects and ask your managers to do the same. Are there items that never seem to get finished? Any projects that have stalled? Set realistic deadlines or consider whether certain items should be removed from your list altogether. You may be surprised at how many tasks can be eliminated or completed once they are reassessed.
Human Resources
If you conduct year end reviews with staff, you may already have a process in place. If not, take time early in the year to clarify expectations and goals with your team. One of the most common frustrations employees report is a lack of understanding about what is expected of them.
A helpful idea from TAB member Richard Duggan:
“When scheduling an employee performance review, I always ask the employee for their feedback on my performance as well. It validates their experience and often generates great ideas for improvement.”
Celebrate
Start the year with a moment of appreciation for your team. Whether it is a casual morning tea, a lunch or a simple gesture that breaks up the routine, celebrating together reinforces connection and reminds everyone that there is more to the workplace than the daily grind.
If you would like support planning for the year ahead, your TAB coach and TAB board are here to help you set meaningful priorities for 2026.