The process that sits between EOFY Review and Business Planning

No matter what size business you lead, now is a great time to pause, review your performance, tweak your targets and get planning for FY25. I have just spent three days on Daydream Island (yes hard I know!) with my business coach and mentor group doing just that.

I’ve returned to Melbourne with ideas about the processes I need to create or rework, the support I need and the programs I want to design. I’ve also planned how I’ll manage what is becoming a very big workload, a home renovation and annual leave later in the year so that I can actually enjoy all three.

Now while not everyone has time to travel to Daydream, I’m going to challenge you to allocate time (with or without a team coach) for this individually and with your team.

To my mind the review part is easy but before you get planning there’s one step that many people miss - deep reflection.

Take some time to ponder these three questions for your reflection:

1. What matters to you (in general and specifically about the next six months?)
2. What will your ‘future self’ thank you for?*
3. How do you want to feel in December 2024? June 2025?

With the answers to these questions in mind and of course a clear eye on your vision, start your planning process. What will you keep, stop and start doing and by when?

*Thanks Donna McGeorge for that excellent question – love thinking about my future self!

What I'm...

Listening to: The Imperfects podcast with James Clear - Down the Habit Hole. If you haven’t read James Clear’s Atomic Habits, this is a great summary with some key tips to forming those habits and rituals you identified in your planning process! Note, if like me, you don’t love all the chat at the beginning (I am not their target audience!), forward to about the 8 min mark.

Reading: Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara, GM of the famous NYC restaurant, Eleven Madison Park. I’m absolutely loving this book – easy to read and while you may not immediately see the connection it is jam packed full of game changing lessons to be learned about service and leadership from his team. If you a have a customer, a member, a patient or a client there is much to learn from this book. I think I can see a blog just on this in my future!

Thinking about: Health and fitness. The recent disappearance and death of a super fit friend who was on a major hike, along with conversations with another also seemingly fit friend and colleague who had a triple bypass eight months ago, has had me checking out a battery of tests to guide my approach to health and fitness. It all follows those reflection questions I listed above. What matters and what will my ‘future self’ thank me for?

Experimenting with: Breathwork and meditation. A breathwork centre has opened in my suburb and I’ve been to three quite different sessions designed to regulate emotions, strengthen immunity, and help sleep. Those of you who’ve tried Wim Hoff breathing will be familiar with some of this approach and more. Can’t say I’ve made it my regular habit but I’m experimenting. The other thing I’m experimenting with is a different kind of meditation using sound technology. All designed to support greater focus, emotional response and creativity. I’m still on level 1. Check it out here.

In case you missed it

Here are the links to some of my posts that resonated for people last month.

1. Performance appraisal time? Here’s a tip!
2. Sometimes it’s all in the name. Reframing ‘structure’ to ‘scaffolding’ to create space for creativity!
3. Just about everyone has a BIG reaction to things when they’re under enormous pressure. Sometimes it’s the last straw….
4. Quote of the day…“I will never again leave it so long to bring everyone together to do this kind of work. It’s important and we need to keep doing it.”

Here’s how you can work with me:

1. Individual Leadership Coaching
2. Team Culture Alignment
3. Kick Off for New Year / New team / New project
4. Team Development + Peer Coaching
5. Business Planning

Book a clarity call or email me.