Spend One Day *ON* Your Business Every Month

How often have you been advised to dedicate more time to working "on the business" rather than "in the business"? But this does not mean dedicating all your days, because you just need a strategy day to achieve this. What is it, and how do I do it?

A strategy day is a dedicated period where you focus solely on your business, free from distractions such as phones and day-to-day tasks. It's a time to immerse yourself in strategic thinking and planning, allowing for uninterrupted exploration of ideas and opportunities.

To make the most of your strategy day, it's essential to follow these guidelines to maximize the value gained from your strategy day and set the stage for meaningful insights and outcomes.

• Schedule the strategy day at least three months in advance. This will give you enough time to prepare and ensure attendance from all key stakeholders.
• Conduct the strategy day away from your usual place of work. This will minimize distractions and create a focused environment beneficial to strategic thinking.
• Strictly prohibit interruptions during the session. This means no phones, no email, and no other meetings allowed to ensure full engagement and concentration from all participants.
• Plan the strategy day around holidays or other times when the workload is lighter. This will maximize the likelihood of a quieter and more conducive environment for strategic discussions.

Dividing your day into six focused parts is an innovative approach to tackling complex tasks effectively. Strategy day can go like this:

1. Goal Clarification: Start by reaffirming your objectives and why they matter. This step ensures alignment and clarity on where you're headed.

2. Strategy Review: Evaluate your current strategy and assess its effectiveness in achieving your goals. This involves analyzing your approach and making any necessary adjustments.

3. Recent Past Review: Reflect on recent activities and outcomes to determine if you've been on the right track. Identify successes, challenges, and areas for improvement.

4. Financial Review: Dive into the numbers to gauge your financial health and performance. Analyze key metrics, budgets, and forecasts to inform decision-making.

5. Business Review: Take a holistic look at your business operations, including processes, resources, and performance across various departments or functions.

6. Planning and Prioritization: Based on insights gained from the previous steps, develop actionable plans, and prioritize initiatives to drive progress towards your goals.

Remember to allocate sufficient time for breaks between sections to maintain focus and prevent mental fatigue. Keeping the session to around six hours ensures optimal engagement and productivity without overwhelming your brain.

Now that the new quarter is here, it's time to reflect on your progress. There is always an opportunity for a fresh start, regardless of whether the previous quarter was filled with solid growth, achievements, or challenges. Make this quarter (and the rest of the year) your best ever by taking advantage of strategy day!