As the seasons begin to change once again and we get another step closer to a new year, I’ve found that this is the perfect time for leaders to reflect on their organization and leadership styles. Now that more than half of the calendar year has passed, the fall season provides an opportunity to take a look back at your organization’s accomplishments and setbacks and be proactive about improving for the future. To help with this process, here are some of the areas I like to focus on analyzing during fall renewal season:

Analyze your “hands-on” approach. This advice can work two different ways depending on your leadership style. Some leaders focus a lot of their energy on their own tasks and projects that they seem inaccessible and detached from the rest of their team. This can be easily fixed by shifting around priorities to have more open communication with employees and colleagues. On the other hand, some leaders confuse “hands on” managing with micro-managing. As a leader, your job is to offer guidance and set objectives, not make sure everyone does their jobs exactly as you would. Being self-aware of your leadership strategy and making edits can help make you an even greater leader, which will help your organization rise to success.

Foster an innovative environment. Your team has a multitude of creative ideas and solutions, so it’s important to make sure your environment fosters this kind of environment. Of course, accidents and obstacles may come forward when taking risks, but the best solutions are usually born from the craziest ideas. Listening to your team and showing them that you value their ideas and creativity will help everyone stay motivated to reach your common goals.

Let go of old notions of leadership. Though there are some strategies and tactics that withstand the test of time, most often it’s much more beneficial for leaders to constantly be re-evaluating them. Those old notions of leadership, like managing by fear, can create major setbacks for your organization, even if these strategies could have easily been avoided. It’s your responsibility to constantly be challenging yourself to improve. After all, this organization is much greater than any one person, but as a leader it’s your job to always be pushing your organization forward and closer to success.

Natalie Spiro Drum Cafe West Coast