New year, new challenges, new you?

What will 2008 bring for you?
The pundits are forecasting a tough year for business, and this may have implications for managers, with emphasis on budgets and managing costs.
Your staff may be feeling the 'credit crunch' and which may affect their stress levels. This may be the moment to rethink your approach to management, taking the changing financial climate into account.
And speaking of climate, sustainability issues are coming to the fore with the need to reduce your organisation's carbon footprint.

What does this mean for managers?
It means that we need to think about our values and our lifestyle, and make sure that we think and act in a way that works for ourselves and our families. "Head in the sand" approaches may not be helpful this year; and neither will a "prophet of doom" attitude. Clear thinking, examining the options, cutting back on wastefulness are all more useful.
Apply some strategic thinking to your job and the way you work.

Reflect on these questions:
Your overall goal this year for yourself and your team (and maybe think of your plan for your family too)
What it will take for that to happen.
Review the threats and the opportunities out there.
Consider what is certain to change and how to be ready for it.
Consider what you would like to stay the same and how that can happen.