2025 Edition: How to Shine During Annual Planning

Over the years I have shared a bunch of materials related to annual planning. This is not because I love the process, I actually hate it and wish it didn't have to exist. I want to make it more practical and less annoying for product people.

My vision / where to? is that I want product leaders to be able to present a meaningful and feasible strategy which reflects the big bets/focus areas/customer problems their teams will be investing in next year. I want that list to be connected with the company vision and goals and to have it's own vision for the future the product wants to create for its customers by the end of the coming year. I want the focus areas to also be connected with business metrics so that across the organization Product is seen as adding value.

Now that I've shared my vision, which I hope you are inspired by, here are some tools to help you from previous work I've done around Annual Planning:

1) Me telling you it will be OK and getting you pumped for something different

2) Overview of steps you can take to make annual planning suck less

3) Steps to Setting a Vision which will become your Where To? and Northstar

4) How to Get the Data You Need to setup your smart bets

5) Guide to Having the Best Ideas Come Surface from EVERYONE

6) Gain the Confidence to Choose the Right Path Forward

7) Make the Mythical Outcome Driven Roadmap a Reality

8) Spread the Word Loud and Proud about your Vision and Plan for 2025

Just 8 easy steps, that each have a slide show, highlight bullets, and full articles to read, no biggie... I know... it's A LOT ... start with whatever area you feel is sucking the most for you... or better yet, start with #3 so you set a vision of how annual planning could be and then choose which of the steps is getting in your way. Then share in the comments which guide you found most helpful.

Good luck and hit be up if I can be of help.

If this is something you want to start applying but are still unsure how, I am here to help. I invite you to check out my packages or schedule a FREE 30-minute mini session to talk about your current situation. You can also always send me an email at [email protected] to share your story or a question.