Post-1st Quarter Performance Check
Recalibrate your annual plan with confidence and clarity
For small and mid-sized businesses (especially those navigating transitions or modernising under next-gen leadership) the end of Q1 marks a pivotal moment. You now have actual performance data, not projections. This is your opportunity to recalibrate your annual plan with clarity, confidence, and strategic precision.
Why It Matters
Many businesses build their annual plans on assumptions. But by Q1’s end, you’ve got real numbers. Whether your targets were ambitious or conservative, now is the time to assess their viability and adjust course. This isn’t just about financials. It’s about momentum, alignment, and execution.
Success Factors for Effective Strategy Execution Post-Q1
- Evidence-Based Planning: Replace assumptions with actual performance data.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Engage leadership across departments to build shared accountability.
- Agility in Decision-Making: Use insights to shift priorities, resources, and investments quickly.
3 Tips to Drive Strategy Execution
- Start with Performance, Not Just Profit: Look beyond the bottom line. Are you growing in the right areas? Is your margin holding under pressure? Are operational changes delivering impact? Use Q1 to identify what’s working and what’s not.
- Pressure Test Your Assumptions: Markets shift. Teams evolve. Priorities change. Revisit your cost base, pricing strategy, and capacity planning. Are you investing in the right areas? Are you resourced to deliver? Align your plan with current realities.
- Make Reforecasting a Leadership Conversation: Bring your leadership team into the room. Sales, operations, finance, and people all offer insights that sharpen the picture. Use this moment to reset expectations and build shared accountability for the next phase.
Starter Questions for Your Business
- Which assumptions from our original plan no longer hold true?
- Are we resourced appropriately to meet revised targets?
- What initiatives should be accelerated, paused, or dropped?
Get in touch with one of our consultants today to review your numbers, pressure test your plan and set a clear course for the rest of the year.