Monthly goal setting doesn’t work for everyone. If you’re trying to make goal planning work for you, try quarterly goal planning. Quarterly planning is a strategic approach to planning key performance indicators (KPIs), objectives, and key results. Quarterly planning is a way to break annual planning into smaller parts which can make it easier to set goals, establish metrics, and review the previous quarter’s achievements and points of growth. To make the most of your quarterly planning, you want to make sure you’re doing the following:
Review the previous quarter
Take a look back at the previous quarter so you can have a more clear understanding of what’s coming next and what your business is going to need in the next 90 days. Review what strategies were effective and which goals weren’t achieved so you can carry over the things that worked and make room for improvement. Even if you didn’t hit certain goals the previous quarter, you can recalculate whether your metrics made sense and are doable.
Pick 2 – 3 key focus areas
Establish no more than two to three key focus areas for the next quarter. Of course, all areas of business are important, by narrowing it down to two to three areas, you’re able to invest your resources to help grow in those areas. If you pick more areas, you run the risk of spreading yourself (and your team) thin and will end up achieving less.
Look at your risk and opportunities
Many times we look only at the opportunities and towards upward trends we anticipate coming from the next quarter’s goals. It’s important to look at not only the upcoming opportunities you have but also any risks that may serve as roadblocks to your goals. When you also look at potential roadblocks that have impacted progress in the past or that could impact success in the future, you’re better able to anticipate solutions or readjust your goals.
Try stretch goals
Stretch goals are basically a bigger number or higher target to hit. If you think some of your goals are easily attainable, try reaching a little further with a stretch goal that seems slightly out of reach. Stretch goals can serve as extra motivation to help push your goals further.
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