The New Year is almost upon us, and that usually means making personal resolutions to get more exercise, eat better and spend less money. But this is also a great time for dental insurance brokers to make some resolutions for their businesses, as well. To get you started, we're listing the five best ways to wrap up your loose ends and enhance your business for 2016:

1. Get organized ... again: The New Year is a great time to re-evaluate your current organization strategy to see if it's working. You might think your current method works, but more likely than not, it could use some tweaking. Go through your files (digital and hard copies) to see what can be eliminated. Getting rid of clutter will make it easier for you to find what you need quickly, which means more time to focus on the task at hand. If you feel like you're low on time to focus on organization, simply make a point to be aware of what doesn't work for you throughout your day. Keep a running list as you discover things that just aren't working in your organization system, and make a point to address them before the end of January.
   
   
2. Make a year-long goal: Look at what you've accomplished for 2015 and see how you can use your experiences to make 2016 even better. What do you want to focus on this year? An increased customer base? Do you want to expand your insurance offerings to include ancillary and voluntary products? Picture where you want to be at this time next year, and then move backwards to plan out milestone goals every month to get you there.
   
   
3. Build a better email schedule: Sometimes it seems like email dominates our lives, and in a profession that requires ongoing communication with several clients every single day it can feel like you're either constantly responding to emails or constantly saving your responses for when you "have more time." Set up a specific time (or even a few times) every day for emails. Use this time to respond to emails, write emails and organize your emails. When the time is up, go about your other business until your next slotted email time. This is a simple but effective way to get more work done and respond to emails in a timely fashion.
   
   
4. Network: You already know several people in your industry, but you can always benefit from new clients. In 2016, focus on ways to network within and outside of your industry to meet new clients as well as other insurance brokers. Some ways to network include online industry specific meet-up groups as well as industry-specific organizations and philanthropy groups. This resolution could also be as simple as making a point to attend events you're invited to that could potentially lead to new networking opportunities instead of opting out.
   
   
5. Re-establish customer relationships: In this age of technology and what seems like the end of face-to-face contact, make a point to really connect with your customers. Phone calls and face-to-face meetings can make a difference in how satisfied they are with you and what you have to offer. Really listen to your customers, and use their comments and concerns to develop a better way to interact with new and potential clients.

These resolutions can get you started as you head into 2016. Keep your focus on moving forward and being an even better dental insurance broker than you were in 2015.