Have you started your 2022 planning?
It’s that time of the year! We dream about the year ahead of us, we set goals (both the big and stretchy kind and the more tangible, check-off-the list kind) and then we charge into the new year with bright and fresh intentions.
Honestly, I love setting goals. For my personal life I start the year with a new vision board because I love the visual impact. For my business, I have a dedicated strategic business planning retreat, to both check in on long term vision/goals and plan the year ahead. It feels so good to have something to work toward.
And yet by the end of February our goals are frequently lost in the shuffle of day-to-day work. We created a plan on paper or we created a plan in our head and somehow reality keeps getting in the way.
This year more than ever it’s important that you accomplish comprehensive planning to keep your business on track. And by planning, I mean more than setting big goals!
Most of us are pretty good at looking at the year ahead and thinking about what our monetary goals are, then dreaming of that big breakthrough goal. And yet we are less skilled at formulating the plan that will back up those goals. I will tell you from years of experience, goal setting alone is not enough. Just like you have a marketing plan, you need to have a strong annual plan that makes your marketing plan real and thoughtfully integrates your team and resources.
With the pandemic still creating chaos and no signs of the great resignation (or the great quit as I call it) slowing down, this is not the year to wing it! I was talking with a client who had a key finance team member quit suddenly. There was no acrimony or bad blood. The person simply found an opportunity that was much closer to home and helped them better manage their family situation. No matter what causes it, turnover on your team creates disruption. The headlines and news segments are full of analysis and discussion of the great quit. No business is immune, whether these times are creating increased opportunity or increased pressure, you want to have a clear picture for the future to set you and your team up for success in 2022.
There is a big difference between goal setting and strategic planning. The reason goals get lost or fall by the wayside is goal setting is really just one step in the annual strategic planning process. In addition to setting monetary goals, you need to connect your goals to your overall mission/vision. Then, connect to what is happening both externally in your industry and internally with your team and resources (e.g. your talent pool, their experience and skills, available tools/technology, etc.). This wholistic approach insures you have a comprehensive picture of the year ahead and better positions you to make quicker, stronger decisions as the year progresses and new opportunities (or challenges) arise.
Lastly, to make sure you keep focused on your plan, schedule regular check-in meetings through out the year. I recommend you schedule these reviews separate from your daily operations meetings to keep your agenda focused and limit distractions from the daily operations of your work. It is too easy for your meeting to get hijacked by the issue of the day.
This year make sure you have a complete annual plan. Make it a plan that goes beyond step 1 and make it a plan that supports you and your team getting the results you want.
