With the start of a new year, I thought I would draft a letter to use with your employees – a way to challenge them to be better in all that they do. If you like it, please use it (or edit it as you wish). I find this is also a good message to share with family. Have a happy and successful New Year.

Dear Employees,

Last year was a challenging year; thank you for your effort, energy, resilience and commitment.

As we start this new year with greater clarity, a greater determination to succeed and a renewed commitment to provide exceptional customer service, we ask just one thing from each of you – be better.

• Be better in your work – think creatively, efficiently and get the details right.
• Be better with our customers – in how you prepare, how you communicate and how you add value.
• Be better with your teammates – in how you support each other, how you communicate and how you care about them as people.
• Be better in your community – in how you give of your time and effort to make your town, city or neighborhood a great place to live.
• Be better with our planet – in how you recycle, minimize your footprint, and how you appreciate the natural beauty around us.
• Be better in your relationships out of the office – in how you communicate, encourage and support.
• Be better to yourself – in your self-talk, in your personal expectations and in your commitment to being all that you can be.

You control how you approach your days in and out of the office. Commit to being better every day. Learn more. Be more responsive. Be more connected. Be more aware. Be tougher. Be more resilient. Be more creative. Be more present. Just be better.

Thank you for your loyalty and effort; we look forward to a great, productive and successful new year.

Warm regards,

Your manager