3 strategies for executing on the plan for your business
So, you’ve done the groundwork by creating your business plan – great effort! Now comes the exciting part of executing on the plan and seeing the goals get closer and closer.
We understand it can be hard to keep going week to week to implement your business plan, but with our 3 tips below, you’ll find it a whole lot easier to successfully execute on the plan and keep your motivation running high.
Strategy 1: Plan your time weekly
Business owners often tell us that managing their time is one of the hardest things about being the boss. A good habit to get into is to sit down at the end of each week and plan what you’ll do for the next week. It won’t take you long, and is a way of identifying days with gaps, or days that are potentially too crowded to achieve your bigger goal-oriented tasks. It’s much easier to fix the weekly calendar in advance, than arrive at Thursday and realise the weekly task list simply won’t get done. A weekly plan will also help you avoid those mid-week mornings of “Hmm, what was I meant to do today?”
Remember that each activity to be completed in the next week must have actual time booked in to complete it. Don’t just have a never-ending list!
When you implement weekly planning, you will start to see a ripple effect on your business momentum. Your tasks will get ticked off, and you will see the results that come from your weekly actions.
To break it down further, each day should consist of 1-3 absolute ‘must-do’s’. You can then build in meetings, appointments and other tasks around them. That way you won’t feel defeated at the end of the day when the crucial business tasks were not addressed.
Strategy 2: Set rewards and consequences
As the owner of your business, only you are responsible for executing on the plan. For this reason, you have to become your own boss, and set the rules for achievements and misses (plus, its great practice for when you have a big team to motivate!).
The reward you choose should represent a sense of achievement for completing all your tasks and growing the business. What will it mean to you? More motivation? A chance to take a few hours to reflect on what you’ve achieved so far? The reward doesn’t have to cost a cent.
Consequences should be put in place so you can re-gather yourself in the event that financial or time goals are not met. When these ‘setbacks’ occur (and, inevitably they will) they can cause you stress or ‘entrepreneurial anxiety’, so do take some time to look after yourself and remind yourself of your ultimate end goal for the business when it does happen.
Strategy 3: Have an accountability coach
Don’t worry, this doesn’t have to cost you anything! Simply think of someone who cares about what you do and is willing to help you. Simply communicate your plan to this person, and schedule an accountability catch-up with them on an agreed day (monthly or bi-monthly is good). Just as a child will work fastidiously towards a goal if they know you have a treat waiting for them at the end – you are more likely to be more productive when someone else knows about your plan and is holding you accountable to it.
If you need more advice on executing on your business plan, time management, and motivation or need someone to hold you accountable, ActionCOACH can help you. To build the right plan for your business download a copy of this eBook Planning for a Successful New Financial Year here.