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Leaders have a vision for the future of their organization. It is what draws the organization forward and gives it purpose. And, true to the principle, where there is no vision, the organization will perish. A vision is vital to organizational health.

But having a vision is not enough. The organization must also develop a strategy for how they will reach that vision. This puts the wheels in motion that propel the team forward, toward the vision.

But just having a vision and strategy are also not enough. There is also the need for goals. Goals are like the signposts that keep your team and organization on track. They help you move from point to point, knowing that you are in alignment with the strategy that ultimately feeds the vision.

Vision – Strategy – Goals

As we near the mid-point of the year, this is a great time to consider the next season. What goals need to be set for June through August? What can you do during this season to prepare for what is the most important season for most companies – September through December. Waiting has consequences. You can’t wait until September to prepare your fall products and launches, for example. The preparation must occur during the summer season.

And here’s the caveat: your team will have goals of their own for this season. And those goals may include time away from work.

Thus, you will be working with fewer team members onboard at any given time as the summer progresses. Planning at this point is critical because it allows you to take that broader view of what needs to happen, and helps you determine how you can do this with team members in flux.

Your team members need this time to regroup from a busy first portion of the year and to prepare for the last portion of the year, which demands the highest level of productivity.

It can be done with good planning.

Here are some things you should be doing right now:

Look Back – Review the first months of the year.

• What goals have been accomplished?
• What goals remain?
• What does your team need in order to finish those goals with laser focus?
• What goals need to be tabled because they are no longer relevant?

Look Forward – Envision the last four months of the year.

• What products, services, and programs need to be launched, promoted, and delivered during that time?

Look Ahead – Set goals for the next three months.

• What summer goals will set you and your team up for success in the last four months of the year?
• Are they realistic, given the summer team dynamics?

It is important to set these goals now, and to set them clearly so the team can celebrate each win. With enough consideration, you may identify a central theme that the team can focus on. Making them fun and celebratory fits the energy of your team at this time of year. It also has the effect of helping to restore the energy they will need for the fall initiatives.

Now is the time to plan…realistically and creatively.

Action Steps

1. Look Back – What are the highlights and lessons of the first part of the year?
2. Look Forward – What are the objectives your organization needs to reach by year-end?
3. Look Ahead – What can you and your team do in the next three months to prepare? How can you make it light and enjoyable, while also being productive?

For valuable resources on Discovering Your Strengths, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!