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leadership lab

This column is part of Globe Careers' Leadership Lab series, where executives and experts share their views and advice about leadership and management. Follow us at @Globe_Careers. Find all Leadership Lab stories at tgam.ca/leadershiplab

Toward the end of each year, leaders reflect on what has been achieved and put pen to paper mapping out a plan for the dreams they have yet to realize.

In making resolutions for 2015, it became clear to me that building upon and amplifying strengths does much to keep a company focused on the core of its business while expanding its reach.

No one knows your company better than you do. As a leader within your organization, it falls upon your shoulders to drive growth by inspiring your team. That said, to grow your business in a big way, you'll need to think big.

Don't have any resolutions set in stone? Consider adopting the following resolutions, which revolve around increasing your sales to bigger corporate customers, gaining more visibility for your brand and creating a corporate culture that attracts and retains the best possible talent.

1. Sell to bigger clients

Raise your sights and move your sales strategy upmarket by selling into the world's largest organizations. These dealings should be better structured, pursued with clearer communication and larger in size.

If you already have relationships with large corporate clients, find ways to become even more valuable to that company to spur on positive word of mouth between departments and beyond borders.

If the organization is multinational, the sky's the limit for what you can accomplish. Resolve to expand your territory by selling more to people you're already doing business with.

2. Increase your visibility

Is becoming an industry-recognized leader important to you? Gaining visibility in magazines and industry trade journals is a key part of demonstrating your expertise on a particular subject.

Thought leadership builds your brand and raises your profile in arenas you may not be able to enter otherwise. Write about what you know and make yourself available to speak about your topic.

Add value by sharing your knowledge and empowering others to succeed. Contributing to the greater discussion will gain more impressions for your brand. To paraphrase the late motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, helping others get what they want will help you to get what you want.

Resolve to take more ground in this area, even if on a small scale.

3. Build your corporate culture

Looking inward now, every company should be improving relationships and building on an already-strong corporate culture. This is done through the entire process of recruiting, hiring and retaining employees.

Schedule time to visit with your employees and get to know them. Invite them to name their top priorities and best accounts. Be quick to listen and slow to speak. Your undivided attention is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

Resolve to be generous with this limited yet most valued resource and watch as your team becomes empowered to go above and beyond the call of duty.

Usher in the year with a realistic set of goals. By putting the above three principles into practice, you will be well positioned to increase your business by creating deeper, more meaningful relationships, sharing your knowledge and successfully building your people.

David Ciccarelli (@davidciccarelli) is the chief executive officer of London, Ont.-based Voices.com, an online marketplace for voice actors.

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