Plan today for the business you want tomorrow. This is what we teach in workshops to owners/executives and managers. I know it sounds basic, but when we master the basics we excel and our organizations are more likely to excel.

In the midst of the whirlwind at work, we can get so caught up that we don’t take the time to make a clear plan for the year or quarter. The problem is if you don’t clearly know where you’re going, how will you know if you get there.

Here is a simple five-step approach to creating your business plan for the quarter and/or year.

1. DEFINE YOUR LEADING OBJECTIVES

You need to clearly define what your leading objectives for either your business or department are. If you are making one for your department, it should support whatever the company’s most important goal is.

When it is finished, the goal should be in the form of x to y by z. For instance, your work goal may be to bring up sales revenue from one million dollars in quarter one to one million two hundred thousand dollars by the end of the quarter.

2. ANCHOR THEM WITH HABITS

There are certain habits or actions that set off a chain reaction for others to happen. Choose one or two habits that when done one or more times on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis causes you to meet your leading objectives.

3. SCHEDULE  THEM IN YOUR CALENDAR

What gets scheduled gets done. In order to hit your lead objective, you must give it the needed time in your calendar. Schedule your habits in your calendar as if they are your most important meeting of the day or week.

4. MONITOR THEM WITH A SCOREBOARD

You need to keep a scoreboard of your progress. So you know where you are on your journey to achieving your objectives. Every week record your progress.

5.  REPORT THEM FOR ACCOUNTABILITY

There needs to be someone that keeps you accountable for hitting your lead objectives. Decide what time each week you will be updating someone on your progress. This could be the leadership team, a team member, or a coach.

I believe that a plan works when you work the plan. This may be the very thing you are missing to take your organization or cause to the next level. Once you have your document finished, you may want to reveal it to your team members to get their input and buy-in. I encourage you to review it once a week to see if you are hitting your marks and to adjust your course as necessary.