Q4 prep for business owners: What you need to focus on

As we step into the last quarter of 2024, business owners with staff have a lot to juggle. Between making sure you’re on top of year end tasks and staying compliant with the latest legislation, it’s a busy time. But with the right preparation, you can finish the year strong and set yourself up for success in 2025.

October Legislation Changes: What You Need to Know

First up, let’s talk about the new legislation coming into effect this October. There’s a big focus on tackling workplace harassment, particularly sexual harassment, and business owners will now need to prove they’ve taken reasonable steps to prevent it. It’s no longer enough to just have a policy sitting in a folder; you’ll need to show you’re proactively working to create a safe and respectful environment.

So, what should you do?

Review your policies: Make sure your anti-harassment policies are up to date and clear for everyone to understand.

Training matters: This is a huge one. Staff need to know what respectful behaviour looks like and how to step in if they see something wrong. This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise, good training can transform the way your team interacts.

Equip your leadership team: Your managers need to know the law inside out. They set the tone and how they handle these issues will make all the difference.

Re-Energising Your Team: Engagement & Retention

The last few months of the year can be tough on employees. Many are feeling the pressure after a long year and engagement can dip. In my experience, this is the perfect time to give your team a boost and keep retention levels high.

Recognise their efforts: A little appreciation goes a long way. Whether it’s a simple thank you, a small bonus, or just public recognition, it can make all the difference in morale.

Offer flexibility: With the holiday season (I’m not using the C-word just yet!) approaching, flexible working arrangements can be a lifesaver for employees juggling family commitments. Even small adjustments can make a big difference.

Get feedback: Why not send out a quick survey to your staff? It’ll give you valuable insights into how they’re feeling and where you can make improvements before the year wraps up.

?

Strategic Planning for 2025: Focus on Culture

As you plan for next year, it’s crucial to think beyond just the numbers. In my opinion, culture needs to be at the heart of your strategy - it’s what sets successful businesses apart. Here’s how to make sure you’re building a culture that supports your goals for 2025:

Revisit your values: Are your company values still relevant? Do they align with where you want to go in 2025? If not, now is the time to tweak them. Your values should guide everything from how your team interacts to how you make decisions as a business.

Measure your culture: You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Take the pulse of your workplace culture by gathering feedback from employees. This can help you spot any gaps or issues before they become bigger problems.

Align culture with your business goals: Whatever your strategic objectives are, whether it’s growing the business, launching new services, or expanding your team - your culture needs to support those goals. For example, if you’re looking to innovate, you might need a culture that encourages risk-taking and creativity.

Empower cultural champions: Culture can’t just come from the top it needs to be lived by everyone. Identify champions in your team who can help model the behaviours you want to see more of and drive positive change across the business.

Make culture part of daily life: Don’t let your culture sit on the sidelines. It should be woven into everything from how you onboard new hires to how you conduct performance reviews. Leaders need to walk the talk and make sure that culture is something everyone feels day in and day out.

?

Practical Steps for the Holiday Season

Of course, we can’t forget about the practicalities of running a business during the holiday season. Now is the time to make sure you’re prepared for any disruptions.

Plan for absences: With holiday requests coming in, make sure you’ve got the right cover in place so your business keeps running smoothly. Clear handovers are key.

Communicate with clients: Let your clients and customers know if your hours or services will change over the holiday period. Managing expectations now will save you from headaches later.

?

Wrapping Up 2024 and Looking Ahead

The last quarter is all about preparation. By staying on top of new legislation, keeping your team engaged and weaving culture into your 2025 strategy, you’ll set yourself up for a strong finish to the year and a successful start to the next.

In my experience, businesses that focus on both their people and their long-term goals are the ones that thrive, no matter what challenges come their way. And I foresee plenty of challenges in 2025…

If you want someone to support you to make these changes or help you achieve your goals next year, let’s talk now.

Fancy more reading? Check out some of my other blogs here:

?Why HR and Leadership is Tougher in Tech Companies

?Adapting to Employment Law Changes Under the New Labour Government

?Why Your Best Employees Are Walking Out the Door and How You Can Stop It

?

If you like what I do, I'd really appreciate you sharing my newsletter, popping me a comment and following me for regular updates.

Natalie | Founder and Director, Dynamic HR Services Ltd.

If my newsletter, posts or advice have aided you, a coffee on Ko-fi would be a wonderful way to say thanks! Your support enables me to continue providing valuable, practical guidance: https://lnkd.in/eiK8caHm