We typically attend all the meetings we plan for, the appointments we make, and the events we want to attend. If you believe in the power of the schedule, you will be blocking out blocks in your calendar to do the things you need to, with specificity.
What about the organization? If we are intent on driving positive change within the organization, inevitably, we should be thinking ahead for the coming year. What we plan for gets done, and setting expectations will help the teams anticipate and plan.
Prepare the annual calendar now. Consider strategic planning sessions, regular operating performance reviews, deep financial dives, budget planning, culture building, Board meetings, review sessions, staff development reviews and succession planning, learning opportunities, and events for team building and fun.
If you get to the end of the year and are somewhat surprised at the less-than-ideal state of some elements of the organization, ask a straightforward question: Was this in our calendar well in advance? The few hours invested in planning this week will reap the rewards a hundred times the time you spend.
