It’s the time of year to pause, take stock of where you are, and set priorities for the coming year. Maybe you’ve done it already. If not, use this checklist to focus and align yourself and those that work with you:
- Revisit your BHAG (Big Hairy Audacious Goal). Does it still work for you and your organization?
- Revisit your Purpose (or Mission). Does it still work for you and your organization?
- Revisit your Values. Are you making decisions based on your values? If not, how should they be refined or may be eliminated?
- Revisit what you Promise Your Customers. What do they say about you? What do you want them to say about you? How can you reaffirm your promises?
Set your and your team’s year-end priorities:
- Revenue Goals
- Net Income Goals
- Goals for People (productivity, turnover, etc.)
- Goals for Processes (improving and then practicing until perfecting your business processes)
- Goals for Service/Product Innovation
- Etc.
Set your and your team’s quarterly priorities:
- Activity directed at Increasing Revenue
- Activity directed at Reducing Expenses
- Activity directed at Improving Productivity (also Retention, Onboarding, Engagement, etc.)
- Activity directed at Improving Business Processes
- Activity directed at Increasing Offerings to the Market
- Etc.
Publish the priorities with KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) that tell everyone if the priority is being achieved OR not.
Set a regular meeting to review how people are coming on their priorities (weekly or more frequently depending on how aligned your current organization is).
And last but perhaps most importantly, read Scaling Up: How a Few Companies Make It… and Why the Rest Don’t by Verne Harnish and the team at Gazelles. Apply its lessons. You’ll be glad you did. As always, let us know if you have questions.