Everyone wants to be in the 38% category, exceeding what was planned (see graph below). The key is to ensure that on Day 1, you set in place an accountability system to ensure quick course correction.
We’re already assuming you have a strategic plan for 2025. We’re also assuming your plan contains Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) goals. And finally, we’ll also assume you have team members assigned to each project within your strategic plan.
Here are some key questions you should be able to answer regarding your strategic plan:
- What are your 2025 strategic goals?
- Do you have team members assigned to each strategic project?
- Do you have deadlines for each task within the project?
- How will success be measured for each project?
Now what you need is a system in place to track your progress. This will include weekly or bi-monthly check-ins with your leadership team to track progress and identify what projects are off track so you can course correctly early. If the problem started in February, but wasn’t caught until August, that’s many months that were potentially wasted.
The biggest determinant between well-intentioned and successful planning is an accountability process. Frequent, regular checks on each of the strategic plan’s projects will identify where, even despite best efforts, goals are not being met or plans are not on track. This identification will create opportunities to course correct.
2025 is an opportunity to set yourself up for success. You can achieve your goals when you hold yourself and your team accountable to the plan you set. Remember, a best practice is weekly or bi-monthly check-ins to track progress and identify issues so that you can take action as necessary.
