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Mid-Year Check In: Do You Know Where Your 2014 Goals Are?

(posted: July 7th, 2014)

Isn't it amazing how quickly we get to the middle of the year? It seems like we were just creating strategic plans and goals for the year, and suddenly we're more than halfway through 2014.

Have you managed to stay on track to reach your goals as planned?

It's so easy to let them slip into the background as you get consumed by the day-to-day demands of your career...and your life!

There are solutions! My clients find that when we do regular check-ins (about every 90 days) they are significantly more likely to succeed with their goals.

Why Do I Need A Strategic Plan?

They say that the definition of insanity is:

Doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results.

Yet, ironically, this is exactly what many organizations (and individuals) find themselves doing.

Developing your strategic plan and then going for it will get you off that treadmill to nowhere.

Companies often fail to appreciate the necessity of having a simple, clear, succinct strategy statement that everyone can internalize and use as a guiding line for making difficult choices.

With a clear definition, formulation becomes easier because executives and leaders know what they are trying to create. Implementation becomes much simpler, because the essence of the strategy can be readily communicated and easily internalized by everyone in the organization.

Strategic planning:

Sets the direction for the organization
Allows managers and staff to understand and work towards this direction
Ensures resources and energies are allocated in the right way
Helps the organization do a better job
Focuses the team's energies
Builds in flexibility, so the organization can assess and adjust direction in response to a changing environment.

Strategic planning is not just for the "big guys". It's not only companies like Cisco or Adobe that benefit from defining their goals and following a plan. These are tools that can be used by any team, any leader, any sized organization, or even any individual, to successfully achieve goals.

Strategic Vision

In addition to the detailed steps below, try this exercise: Imagine that it's December 31, 2014, and you are writing your year-end review. What did you accomplish in the second half of 2014? Name 3 to 5 specific achievements. Now come back to today, and use the steps below to make that vision a reality.

(Psst: For those of you who didn't create any plan at all, it's never too late to start.)

3 Steps For Getting Your Strategy Back On Track

Don't panic, and remember that a strong sense of where you are going, combined with specific steps or actions, will create a kind of magic of purpose to speed your success.

#1. Start by carving out time to review your strategic plan and/or goals with your team, or to think about what you intended to do this year.

What have you achieved that you can celebrate now?
What values are important to the team and/or the organization?
(If you have a plan) What has changed since you created your original plan; how will you address these changes?
Do a SWOT analysis
What do you need to accomplish by the end of the year to feel successful?

#2. Next, answer the following questions:

Which goals (choose no more than 3) would make the biggest difference for me/my team/my organization at the end of 2014? These are your Critical Few that you'll focus on to make the most impact.
What do we need to reach these goals? (Resources, support, training, etc.)

#3. Finally:

What are the specific next steps to achieving these goals (make sure they are SMART)?
Who needs to be involved?
How will we hold each other accountable?
How will evaluate our progress and measure our success?

There's more on some of these ideas in my previous blog post: Design Your Best Year Ever

Challenge Yourself

Have you revisited your goals and plans for the year?
Are you on track and on target?
Do you need to refocus or change anything?
Do you need an outside, objective pair of eyes?
Is there a tip we missed? Let us know in the comments!

KLR is here to help! Give us a call (650) 578-9626 or email, and we can create a custom strategic check-in tailored to your needs. Your 30-minute consultation is always FREE.

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