Summer has been hot and it's about over as kids are going back to school this week or next for many of us. I hope you've had a chance to enjoy time with family and friends and time to recharge your batteries.

Now we're past the midpoint of the year and with five months left in the year, it's time to refocus on your most important goals. Here's some of my best ideas to make 2021 spectacular.

PDCA

It's time to survey the landscape in your industry and markets. What do you see as potential issues or opportunities in the coming months? What are your strengths and where do you have weaknesses?

Talk to your customers. What do they like about your products and services? What do they dislike?

I recommend you have a process of continuous feedback and assessment for your most important goals in what I call PDCA. That's Plan, Do, Check, Act.

After you've planned your strategies and tactics (Plan), and you and your team have taken actions to implement them (Do), it's time to Check the results. Then either course correct the existing strategies or employ new ones (Act). Repeat the process at least quarterly.

AIDE The Process

To aid you in the PDCA process I like to use the AIDE GRID. The GRID is an easy way to evaluate the strategies, tactics and actions that you've employed so far, and to consider new ones that can get you to where you want to be.

If you would like a Free Copy of the AIDE Grid, you can get Get Instant Access Here! You'll get my suggestions plus a blank grid that you can fill out based on your unique circumstances.

Suggestions on how to implement the Grid.

Add: Consider new strategies/tactics and new ways of thinking. Focus on key performance indicators to measure results that matter. And make time for self-reflection.

Increase: Analyze what has worked so far. Increase communication and listening at all levels. Increase risk-taking - just fail fast and cheaply. Continuously provide clarity through consistent reminders on vision and purpose. Increase continuous feedback. Ramp up the speed of change. Time is money. Feedback is gold.

Decrease: Evaluate business risks by assessing your weaknesses and then developing strategic plans to address them. Decrease confusion (see communication and listening above) and limit assumptions. Decrease hesitation and self-doubt or imposter syndrome.

Eliminate: Evaluate what's not working. Eliminate waste, inefficiencies, non-productive actions, and bad apples. The bad apples will wreck your culture and your bottom line.

Final Thoughts

With five months left, take the time now to check your results for your most important goals. Whether you're on track or not, with some forward thinking and re-evaluation of strategies to date, you can Make 2021 a Spectacular Year.

Any questions about how to use the Grid?  Schedule a brief call with me. I'd be more than willing to walk you through the process. Schedule a 15 minute call now.

Until next time!