How can you do a simple business 'Set/Reset'? 🤔
Today is both the start of Q2 for 2025 📈 and April Fools' Day 😂 (although with the news the way it is, the April Fools' headlines are getting harder to spot).
The question to ask as we go into Q2 is not whether you'll get through the quarter, but what you want to get from it? Where do you want to be at the start of Q3?
You have to be aware of where you're going to make sense of how and what you can control. 🧭
There's a lot of negative narrative in the business press at the moment and it's easy to fall prey to it, unless you've got a clear view on what you can focus on instead.
Too many people fall into the trap of focusing externally, instead of adopting an internal locus on control. This is easily picked up in the language people use and their outlook. The former think things mainly happen to them and they have little control over that, and the latter make things happen for themselves. They steer a different course. ⛵
The burning question then is - Are you clear about what you want to get from the next 12 weeks? ⏳📊
The answer we come across far too often is "not really". Alongside comments like "We've a rough idea....; we don't know what the markets will do....; we're waiting to see what the budget says....; the impact of tariffs....; it's outside of our control we just respond...." 🤞🍀
That's energy sapping, not much fun, and feels very uninspiring.
We've built a really simple framework for doing a quick 'set/reset' with our clients. 📈
These are short interventions, where we get a snapshot of where they are now (current state) and where they'd like to be 3 months from now (desired future state). 🏅 (See the model below).
We add a lot more detail to help reflect on the current state and how clients feel about it. This normally highlights the lack of suitable and varied metrics that help to reveal what’s going on. You need to know much more than just turnover and profit.
It's much easier to fully commit yourself when you know where you're going, how you think you'll get there, and what you'll get from being there. 😃
As the diagram below shows that doesn't mean it's all plain sailing. There may well be challenges, but it's much easier to cope with them if you're clear on the journey, and if you've someone to guide you. Ask anyone who drives the M25 regularly detours or unexpected incidents occur. It’s how we prepare for and react to these that makes the difference.
We work alongside clients in 3 month sprints that build the vision for their Desired Future State and the processes and systems to support their journey. 🤝 📈 We hold them accountable and share others models and tools that help to build their skills and knowledge. Ultimately, these lay a solid foundation for a 2-3 year plan to start to emerge focusing on the Vision, Implementation and Priorities as below. This can then help to launch or relaunch the business and enhance its profitability. 🚀
One page business plan
Let us help you get the most out of your next quarter and/or reset your business planning. Get in touch to see how we can support you.
