From Annual Plan to Action

At my fourth Annual Planning Session with a client, the company had just achieved its highest annual profit in its 12-year history. The leadership team credited EOS® with helping them get there.

I share that story because Annual Planning isn't just about agreeing on a plan. It's about making decisions that guide what your team does all year.

At every Annual Planning Session I’m a part of, I encourage teams to review their Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO®), have an honest conversation about where the business stands, and get clear on what they want to accomplish in the year ahead.

From there, they can establish Rocks that support the 1-Year Plan and use the weekly Level 10 Meeting® to review progress and resolve issues as they come up.

Annual Planning gives your team an opportunity to agree on where the business is going, but consistent follow-through is what turns those decisions into progress.

Focus Points
“Annual planning should be the most valuable two days of your year, but it only works if you turn ideas into action.”

EOS Annual Planning: A Guide for Leadership Teams

Your leadership team has two days to make decisions that will guide the business for the coming year. You don't want to spend that time gathering information everyone could have reviewed beforehand.

Before your Annual Planning Session, revisit your Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO), review the proposed budget, and identify the issues that need your team's input. Come prepared to discuss what worked during the past year, where you fell short, and what needs to change.

That preparation gives your team more time to have meaningful discussions about where the business is headed, agree on priorities, and establish Rocks that support your 1-Year Plan.

In this blog, I walk through the full two-day EOS Annual Planning process, including the preparation, discussions, and decisions that help leadership teams make the most of their time together.

Maz Prompt of the Week

Ask: Pull up the company strategy and summarize our 10-Year Target, 3-Year Picture, and 1-Year Plan.

Webinar: Make Your Annual Plan Stick

How do you keep your annual goals connected to your team's quarterly priorities?

Join Christine Watts, Head of Professional Services at Ninety, for a 60-minute webinar covering how to structure an effective Annual Planning Session, apply lessons from the past year, connect 1-year goals to Rocks, and use your Level 10 Meeting to monitor progress.

Wednesday, October 28 | 3 p.m. ET

Can't attend live? Register to receive the recording.