Have you begun next year’s planning process for your business yet? It may seem too soon, and you may feel like you need to stay focused on your Q4 deliverables and goals. However, the new year will be here before you know it, and the best way to ensure your business remains successful and reaches future goals, is to start planning now. By following these 5 steps, you can formulate a plan for success in the new year.

1. Schedule time for your own internal planning meeting.

If you haven’t yet done so, within the next few weeks, set aside a block of time for you and your management team to meet and discuss plans for next year.  Creating a successful business plan requires calculated and strategic planning rooted in a review of the current year and your projections for next year and beyond.

2. Look back to look forward.

Begin planning for the future by taking a look at the past. Did the business reach all of the goals that were set for this year – both financial and otherwise? Did you sell as much product as you hoped to sell, gain as many customers as you hoped to gain, hire as many people as you hoped to hire, make the impact you hoped to make? If you have goals that were not met, consider carrying them into next year. Or, perhaps this is an opportunity to reassess any unmet goals and consider whether they are still within the scope of the success of the business as it currently stands. Just as people evolve and change over time, so do the nature and goals of businesses. What worked last year, may not be what is best for the company this year or next.

3. Craft your business goals for next year.

After reflecting and assessing and with this year’s information in mind, set a trajectory for next year and make a list of the goals for your business in the new year. Identify the key metrics on a quarterly and monthly basis that support your yearly goals. Don’t simply focus on the ‘what,’ but also consider the ‘how’ – how will you make steps each day toward the goals you have set? Who will support or be responsible for meeting or impacting those goals? Be sure to assign meaningful, attainable deadlines for the supporting goals as well.

4. Create a theme for the new year.

With your future goals in mind and the direction in which you’d like to take your business into the new year, identify a theme to adopt. This should be something you can incorporate into team meetings, activities, trainings, retreats, etc. Ensure your chosen theme remains true to the ideals and foundational beliefs you and your team admire and appreciate. This theme will add to the team camaraderie and focus. What do you want the coming year to be about? Where do you want to put your focus? Creating a theme is a sure-fire way to set the new year on a dedicated course.

5. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you need to be doing today!

You may be hyper-focused on finishing this last quarter strong which we are not advocating against. We are strong proponents of finishing strong, and we work diligently every day to help our clients do the same. Just know that if you are reading this right now, you are not the only one beginning to plan for next year. Your customers/clients are also finding themselves in the same position, and if you drag your feet reaching out to make sure you are on their radar (and also included in THEIR budget for next year) they may not remember to allocate funds in their budget for you!

In addition to scheduling a planning meeting, looking back through this year’s budget, creating a list of business goals for next year, defining a theme for the new year, and staying proactive and diligent about communicating with current clients/customers regarding enlisting your services in the new year, also be sure to start thinking about additional resources you’re going to need in the new year. If you are looking for assistance building a strong foundation, so you have more time to focus on what you do best to reach your business goals, we’re here to help.  Visit our website at remotecoo.com to connect with us today. We would love to assist you on your quest to reach your goals next year!