The Director's Planner: Week of December 16, 2024
Look backward, plan forward.
1 Weekly Challenge
Look backward, plan forward.
As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the past year AND plan for the future. Grab a blank sheet of paper and start by listing your biggest accomplishments from the past year. What milestones did you achieve? What challenges did you overcome, and what impact did they have on your center? Celebrating these wins is an important part of growth. Then, shift your focus to the upcoming year. What challenges do you want to confront? Are there areas of your center’s operations or culture that you want to change or improve? Reflecting on both your past successes and future goals will help you set meaningful goals for the year ahead and empower you to lead with intention.
Next week for my Insiders I will be doing an in-depth overview on how to set clear, focused and actionable goals for the new year!
2 Thoughts to Consider
I. “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” -Henry David Thoreau
Leadership is more than hitting milestones; it’s about the journey and the personal transformation along the way. Each challenge you navigate strengthens your ability to lead with empathy and vision. Think about the ways your persistence, adaptability, and reflection this year have influenced your team and your center. How has achieving (or missing) your goals shaped the kind of leader you are today?
II. “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.“ -CS Lewis
Leadership is a lifelong process of reinvention and renewal. Whether you’re starting a new project, tackling an ongoing challenge, or dreaming up new initiatives for your center, this quote reminds us that growth has no expiration date. What’s one bold goal you can set today to inspire not just your team but yourself? Dreaming big isn’t just for children—it’s for those who guide them too.
3 Action Items
I. Send and post reminders on upcoming closures
The action items for this week may not be groundbreaking, but they’re still important! Even if you already sent out reminders about upcoming closures or events last week, it’s a good idea to send them again this week. Whether it’s a reminder for spirit week, a holiday performance, or about your center’s upcoming closure, it’s helpful to make sure the information stays fresh in parents’ minds. With so much on their plates, these little reminders are key to keeping everyone on track and avoiding any confusion.
II. Complete annual staff training tracking sheets
As we approach the end of the year, it’s essential to ensure all staff members have completed their required annual training hours. This week, double-check that everyone’s training is up to date, and make sure to finalize any training tracking sheets required by licensing. It’s an ideal time to review your documentation to ensure compliance and avoid any last-minute rush. With less kids in attendance, you also have the opportunity to get a few more hours of training completed for any staff who are behind. Taking a proactive approach now will save time and stress as you move into the new year, allowing you to focus on other priorities.
III. Prepare your monthly newsletter
If your center is open next week, you will have some extra time to work through communication, but it’s an amazing feeling to get ahead of things and start the new year out right! For my Insiders, I will be releasing the January Resource Toolkit later this week!