In a recent blog I offered expert tips on how to effectively execute your plan for the coming year; but many business owners are overwhelmed and not sure how to even begin the planning process. The following are my 7 Easy Steps to Building a Plan:
- First and foremost, employ the KIS model – Keep It Simple. If you are just starting, don’t make things harder than they need to be and begin by breaking things down into bite sized baby steps. Believe it or not, you do know what to do.
- Let’s say it is December 31, 2018. What do you want to have achieved personally and professionally? Develop a bullet list of these items. The business side of things should include financial, operational and people related goals.
- Make sure everything is measurable. If you don’t measure it, you can’t track it. This is important as it will allow you to build accountability into your organization.
- Now that you have your annual goals in place we are going to zoom in on Q118. What must you have done by March 31, 2018? Then break this down even further: What needs to be started or completed in January, February and March? Again, these things must be measurable, and you also must assign responsibility. Responsibility means that ONE person is responsible for making sure the task is completed or the goal is met — it doesn’t mean the person has to do all the work themselves but, rather, they are accountable for making sure it is completed.
- In your weekly team meetings, you want to incorporate updates from your management team on their goals for the month and quarter. Be sure to update the progress of your activities along the way.
- At the end of each month, you should conduct a review of your plan and make any modifications. Some things will get done earlier and some things may need to be completed in the next quarter.
- In mid-March, using the same process as in Q1, it is time to develop your 90-day goals for the second quarter, determining what needs to happen from April through June. Again, detail your plan with specifics, measurability and accountability.
As you continue this planning routine throughout the year, you will find that you are really getting things done. Focusing on bite sized steps adds up to BIG results!
By Blair Koch
Need help with your 2018 plan? Give us a shout. blair@tabdenverwest.com