Verne Harnish notes in his book Mastering the Rockefeller Habits that the difference between organizational vision and organizational..
Annual & Quarterly Planning Resources
Sounds like a simple concept: Alignment. What makes this so hard to achieve? The fact is, if you are hiring the right people, you will..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Effective Meetings
We are thrilled to host our Annual Breakthrough Conference once again in Charlotte, NC, May 4th-5th 2022, at the Charlotte Marriott City..
Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams, Mergers & Acquisitions
A common tool used in planning sessions is the SWOT analysis. The acronym SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
As strategy planning experts, we often get asked how to run a strategic planning meeting, as great strategic meetings don’t happen by..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Successful SMART goal setting is an essential skill for both personal and professional success. If you aren't writing goals for yourself,..
From a leadership perspective, there’s a real thirst for increasing leadership accountability. Executives have recently asked me various..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams, Mergers & Acquisitions
Every quarter, my team and I complete a
Start-Stop-Continue (or start-stop-keep) exercise to get us thinking. It's a valuable process that..
We recently held our 6th annual Breakthrough Conference, although it was our first ever virtual conference, and I want to share a few ideas..
In a former job, I had a manager who called all of his direct reports together to tell us some exciting news! We were embarking on a big..
At this point in the year, many companies are gearing up to plan for the next year as part of their strategic planning process. Before you..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
When it comes to goal setting, there are two extremes that come up over and over again. Some companies tend to err on the side of..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Effective Meetings, goal planning
It sounds so simple. But, I was just discussing scaling up meeting rhythms with one of my colleagues, and she told me that it took her..
So, how’s your huddle? I’ve written about huddles before and honestly believe they can be a breakthrough component in building..
One of my favorite teams to coach through the Rhythm Cascade process is the Sales team. Having been part of a large sales organization..
Integrating acquisitions, launching new products, deploying new company-wide systems or processes, shifting your organizational structure,..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
You can make an argument that your company’s annual planning meeting is the most important thing you do all year. It is where you have your..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
So, you had a great planning session with your team. Everybody left the 3-day session pumped up and ready to hit your targets for the year..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I have to admit that I am a data geek. I do know that I have a unique personality type and most people aren’t interested in digging deep..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Effective Meetings
As we begin 2022, there are a lot of questions we just can't answer. We'll continue to experience uncertainty about the ongoing impact of..
Many unknowable things can happen between now and the beginning of 2021. One thing we do know is that when next year hits, you will need to..
If you had told our team of expert facilitators this time last year that they would be doing 90% of their strategic facilitation work..
I am a big fan of Jim Collins and have used his book “Good to Great” as a business tool for many years. I was recently introduced to the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
It's undeniable the new season has arrived—everything's in bloom, days are getting longer and warmer, and it's time for spring cleaning,..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
As in the past many years, I entered 2020 with a full schedule of strategy and execution planning work with my clients. Then the pandemic..
Are your meetings the butt of work-related jokes? Why is it that we roll our eyes with disdain when our calendar is loaded with meetings,..
Business is moving faster than ever before, and these days your business needs to be as nimble possible to respond to the rapidly changing..
Leaders frequently ask me about how to build a performance culture focused on personal accountability, employee engagement, and results...
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
We are coming into that time of year where a lot of companies are gearing up or doing their annual planning to prepare for next year. In..
In any industrial company, there are business goals to hit, KPIs to measure and OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) to complete. In..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
It may seem daunting to tackle your Strategic Annual Planning session for 2022. With so much uncertainty due to the ongoing pandemic, it..
Executive Weekly Meeting Team Size
For the most effective weekly team meeting, your weekly leadership meeting team should consist of 8-10..
Most Companies Fail Due to Poor Strategic Execution
As a fan of Blue Ocean strategy, you already know how important it is to have the right..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Mergers & Acquisitions
Quarterly Planning is just around the corner, are you prepared to create a winning plan this quarter with your team?
Here are 10 Quarterly..
It is that time again. I am working with my clients to help create quarterly execution plans with their top company quarterly rocks so they..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
A new quarter is starting. It is time to discuss, prioritize and choose your top priorities for the new quarter. How do you do this? How do..
High performance teams are critical to success in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business environment. In order to remain..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams
So you've just completed your Quarterly Planning Session and are ready to execute. Before you get started, how do you know you have the..
As Chris Cosper detailed in a previous post, we have the ability to record 3 types of metrics in our Rhythm cloud based strategy platform:
The holidays are just around the corner and everyone is hustling to wrap things up before some well deserved time off. Did your team have..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Creating Company, Group, and Individual priorities is a key success factor (a leading indicator KPI) to achieving both your short-term and..
No one wants to have silos in their company, but even in my short career I’ve seen many companies that do. You need organization and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Many companies have strong Annual Plans but fail to execute on them and miss their targets year after year. They know that they are missing..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
How much did misalignment cost your organization in 2020? Misalignment comes from poor planning, and it results in poor execution and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams
As the summer comes to an end and fall looms with more uncertainty, it can be tempting to sit back and see what comes next—but if you..
What should you do if you cannot seem to come up with enough sales opportunities to hit the revenue target for next year? This scenario..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Did you know that nearly half of all companies fail to meet their financial targets? Much of this lack of success can be traced back to..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
2020 was an extraordinary year on many fronts. Most people I know are very glad it is behind them, and now that it is and we are a month..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
At Rhythm Systems, we have been helping companies build strategic execution plans for the last 15 years. We've learned a lot in that time,..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings
A CEO has many responsibilities, and among the top is ensuring the company has a sound plan and budget going into each new year. Seasoned..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Excited. Ready. Anxious. Eager. Let’s go!
Worried. Tired. Stressed. Done. Overwhelmed.
At the end of a meeting, we usually recommend..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
It is easy to confuse your strategy and your 3-year strategic plan. I have seen somany leaders tell me that they have a great strategy...
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
The Level 5 Leadership Stage is Set…
Have you ever had this "strange" feeling that you just couldn’t shake? I recently went through that...
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Quite a few years back, a good friend of mine introduced me to John Miller and his book “QBQ – The Question Behind the Question.” I had..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
If you have ever downloaded any tools or other resources on our site, you know that we usually ask you about your Biggest Business..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Many companies are figuring out how to do more with less as a result of the pandemic and ensuing economic hardships. Some are relying more..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
At Rhythm Systems, we believe that having a strong Think Plan Do Rhythm is essential to growing your business with purpose. And, we think..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Have you ever been particularly busy with work—maybe leading up to a big event or project deadline—and tell yourself, "OK, things will..
Think back to the fall when most of you created your plans and goals for the year. There was so much uncertainty - nobody knew how quickly..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Now that vaccinations are in sight for most of us, many leaders whose companies have been mostly remote for the last year are..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
What's the difference between KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and Quarterly Rocks? This can be a very confusing question, especially for..
Who is facilitating your next One-Day Quarterly Planning Session?
Whether you are doing it yourself, bringing in an outside facilitator,..
This year, our expert consultants have been recommending a more agile approach to strategic planning; rather than hunkering down for two..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
For over a decade, our consultants have worked with client CEOs to help them exceed industry standards and build great companies. Having..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Effective Meetings
If you are like many of our clients, you may be considering adjusting travel plans for your team in the midst of the concern surrounding..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
One of the biggest challenges for companies is aligning their priorities across the entire organization. As a leader, you need the right..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Over the last few months, my husband and I have been re-watching AMC’s Mad Men, a show we started a long time ago and never finished in the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
There is no better time than the present to work on completing your strategy. You may have wanted to nail down your work on core customer,..
One of the best parts of our annual Breakthrough Conference is getting our Rhythm community together to live our core values of Keep Smart,..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Many companies are tempted to power through the end of the year and see what happens. That approach could prove catastrophic for your..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Our first-ever virtual Breakthrough Conference is just a few weeks away! Here's a sneak peek so you know what to expect from this..
Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
As we wrap up Q3 and move on to Q4, I’ve had a lot of conversations with clients and my team about the best practices for closing out a..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Most companies we work with are still operating in a virtual or semi-virtual world, and fortunately, employees are adapting well. It is..
Your Quarterly Planning session is arguably the most important day or two out of your next 90 days. You need to emerge from that session..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I facilitate a lot of strategy and execution planning sessions throughout the year. The majority of the time, I do this on-site with a..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
The most common pitfall I see in companies who are new to Rhythm and the Rockefeller Habits is thinking that setting targets for their KPIs
According to FEMA, only 60% of small businesses reopen after a disaster. The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) continues this..
It’s time to slow down and develop a world-class team execution plan for next year. When we don’t slow down to plan our execution, our..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
We all know we need to be prepared for the worst—while striving for the best—when it comes to the effects of COVID-19, and the market has..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
The things I'm most excited about in the new version of Rhythm are the features for cross-functional teams and departments. Achieving team..
Have you ever been in your departmental quarterly planning session, and you feel resistance from a team member about taking on another..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
It was the 2007-2009 recession, and markets were uncertain. Things were generally OK with my business, yet with years of experience through..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
The 880-page CARES Act requires ongoing, focused effort to reduce the complexity to useful information. Just like filing taxes, some are..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
Many of our clients whose fiscal year doesn't match the calendar year are about to close the books on another successful year! That means..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
You have just finished a very successful Quarterly Planning Session with your team, and now it is time to get to work. Your team is fired..
Recently, AvidXchange, a Charlotte-based fin tech company, announced Series F funding. Their innovative accounts payable platform is..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
Preparation is one of the keys to a successful planning session. One of best things you can do to ensure that you’ll have a solid plan at..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Regardless of size, all businesses require strategic thinking to grow. Many leaders consider strategic thinking (and the subsequent..
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Okay, I don’t want to create “holiday creep” where Christmas decorations are out even before the..
Unfortunately, I’ve seen leading companies spend (aka “waste”) time in a one or two-day Annual Planning orQuarterly Planning Session. The..
Our recommended Weekly Meeting Agenda involves talking about three things: 1. your company 2. yourself 3. your clients/employees. The..
“We need more accountability around here.” “We need to hold people accountable.” This is one of the most consistent themes we hear from..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Fall is upon us. School is back in session, the leaves are beginning to turn, the air is crisp, Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back at Starbucks…..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Are you setting your team up to fail to deliver your Annual Initiatives? There’s only one way to know: create a 4-Quarter Flyover Plan.
..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
This month we have all been reflecting on the Rockefeller Habits Checklist. One of the most important elements is establishing a..
It’s that time of year again when executives are thinking about their annual plan and asking themselves, “where do I start?” A lot of..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
At Rhythm Systems, we teach our clients to grow their businesses with purpose using our Think Plan Do® methodology. We believe the best..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Every quarter is a thirteen-week race. It goes by fast. Before you know it, the quarter is over. And then the year is over. You are left..
As you lead your team through strategic planning, one of the hardest discussions can be around strategy. Sometimes, your team has more..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Planning is very important to set your company up for a successful year. You have probably heard the saying, "If you don't know where..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a popular strategic management system proposed by Robert Kaplan and David Norton and documented in their..
2019 is coming to an end. I find myself flying across the Atlantic Ocean to Singapore for my mother’s birthday. From Singapore, I will then..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
For those of us who operate on a calendar year, 2019 Q4 is well underway, and we'll be in 2020 Q1 before you know it. Don't panic, but do..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Recently, I’ve noticed that many of our clients are involving more and more people in the planning process. As they head into Annual..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
As a parent with young kids, I read a lot of children’s books (many of the same ones over and over again to the point of having them..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
It’s that time again – back-to-school, pumpkin everything, football, and Annual Planning season! You and your team are about to invest so..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Not all customers are created equal. Some are more equal than others. We refer to these as our Core Customers. Core Customers are the..
Strategy & Annual Planning Sessions tend to drum up lots of emotions. For some, planning is exciting and fun, while others approach it..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I’ve observed a common theme in client companies. I should say, a specific type of client companies. The type that successfully grow year..
What makes an Annual Planning session successful? Meaningful discussion around the right topics is a start, but you don't get there by..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
In the last two years, many of my clients have taken the brave and ambitious step of cascading Rhythm deeper in their organizations. It's..
"Spectacular keynote speeches, incredibly, relevant, informative breakout sessions. Thank you!"
“Loved the human element of business that..
Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams, Mergers & Acquisitions
You’re a couple of months into your 2019 annual plans - the honeymoon phase. Your annual plan still looks good, you’re excited to see it as..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
“If you can move people by inspiring and building their confidence to own and drive your new strategy, they will be committed to seeing..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
As the CEO or team leader, you probably put a lot of time and energy into preparing for your Annual and Quarterly Planning sessions for..
According to PMI’s 2017 Global Project Management Survey, 1 in 4 strategic initiatives fail. This is not great news for anyone who recently..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Having been with Rhythm Systems since 2010, I have had the privilege of consulting with some teams for over 5 years. I love seeing teams..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
There are many different characteristics and habits of High Performance Teams, but one that has a big impact on execution is sharing..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Looking back on the Annual Planning season, it seems like I was surrounded by BHAG talk! Many of you started working on nailing down your..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Many companies invest a lot of time, energy, and resources in crafting a strategic plan for the year. Unfortunately, many of those Annual..
Every quarter we see thousands of Priorities recorded in Rhythm. Some priorities will be execution-ready and finish SuperGreen. Others will..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
At Rhythm Systems, we specialize in helping mid-market companies grow with purpose. However, our team is still relatively small. We’re..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Bringing Rhythm into your organization can be a big change. However, it’s the first step on an exciting journey that will help you and your..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Our Rhythm Systems consultants have worked for years to help management teams create execution ready quarterly plans to achieve their..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Here at Rhythm Systems, we are very blessed to have almost 10,000 blog subscribers, 10+ regular contributors, and many amazing readers who..
Topics: Increasing Sales, Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams, Mergers & Acquisitions
As I think over last year, I wonder why some companies increased sales and were happily forging ahead while others never moved out of the..
I am incredibly lucky to work with clients quarter after quarter, year over year. We’re part of each other’s extended family. My home state..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
We are proud to announce that Retail TouchPoints recently featured two of our long-time clients, Simms Fishing Products, and luxury..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Today, a client asked me to clarify the purpose of the Client/Employee Feedback item on the Weekly Meeting Agenda. It got me thinking and..
As we approach the busiest season for annual planning, I am encouraging clients to spend more time working on their strategic priorities,..
Most of our successful mid-market clients have no shortage of great ideas. The constraint lies with the time and resources to get it all..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Think about it - what sets your company apart? Are you poised to quickly enter emerging markets and innovate new products and services that..
It’s time to plan your fourth quarter and finish the year strong! One of the reasons plans fail is due to poorly defined goals and..
During Q4, many companies begin to think and plan for the next year. To gain insight into the process and importance of planning for the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
A new quarter is upon us. It is time to learn from the quarter that just ended and develop a killer plan to end the year strong. I believe..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Many companies begin their annual planning process by first creating their annual budget. Then they bring the budget to their annual..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail – Benjamin Franklin
It is that time of the year again: time to prepare for your quarterly..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
You go to your doctor every year for a physical, but you rarely do this for your business. As you prepare your team for Annual Planning,..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
I would challenge you to think very hard about this question as it’s not an easy one to answer based on my experience as a facilitator,..
“A good plan executed right now is far better than a perfect plan next week.” - George S. Patton
Patton had it right. An executive pattern..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Successful Rhythm Cascade implementation hinges greatly on Team Leaders. Once the Company's Quarterly Plan is established, Team Leaders..
"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth." - Mike Tyson
I've never met a CEO who expected his or her team and their..
You worked hard with your team to develop a winning annual plan. Everyone is optimistic going into the year that this plan is going to..
The primary goal of any lean initiative is to drive out waste. Have you considered whether or not you have waste in your quarterly planning..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
As you set your strategic priorities for the upcoming year, remember an important distinction: Your “strategic plan” isn’t as important as..
As we head into the end of the year, many leaders are gearing up for more than just Annual Planning and holiday celebrations - many are..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
When I was in college, one of my professors pulled me aside after class and said, “You have great ideas, but when you present them to the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Your Annual Planning meeting is one of the most important—and expensive—few days for your company every year. How can you be sure to..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
With this quarterly planning season coming to a close, I've discussed hundreds of priorities in the last few weeks with clients - you are a..
It’s that time of year again – just about everyone on a traditional calendar year is gearing up for Annual Planning! You and your team will..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
It’s that time of year to create a winning plan for next year. As part of the Annual Planning process, you will be reviewing last year’s..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Imagine this - you set out a quarterly plan with your team. Your top priority is to launch a new product. Everyone is excited! You want to..
Creative problem solving is an essential skill in our ever-evolving work world. As more and more technical and analytical aspects of our..
“Nothing is more dangerous than an idea when it is the only one you have.” - Emil Chartier
Your annual and quarterly planning sessions are expensive. Let’s do a little exercise:
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I recently wrote a blog highlighting the first differentiator for the webinar I presented for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).
..
Your planning sessions are important and expensive. Whether they’re Quarterly Planning Sessions, Annual Planning Sessions, or Strategic..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Effective Meetings
When we hear of silos, our minds drift to a beautiful landscape where we find tall grain bins built on finely manicured and plowed fields...
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
As Annual Planning approaches for many companies, leadership teams are sitting down to develop their goals for 2018. How was your 2017? Did..
As I’ve said before, I learn as much from my clients as they do from me. And then I unabashedly make it my own, share it with others, and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
We all have those moments when we feel like there is just never enough time or energy to get it all done. There actually isn’t. It doesn’t..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Develop an execution ready plan for your quarter, each and every quarter! This will help you to have a successful quarter each and every..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I’m a fly on the wall during a client’s departmental quarterly planning meeting when someone completely unsolicited said, “I love Rhythm. I..
It is important to have winning strategies that drive your annual plan. Don't just focus on revenues and profit and growth. Also focus..
Here we are - the beginning of a new year. Chances are, you invested the time and resources into an annual planning session. What do you..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I recently facilitated an annual planning session for a client. During our debrief after the session, the team shared that it was one of..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Most of you have probably wrapped up your Annual Planning sessions and feel prepared for 2017. You have the best 3-5 initiatives to move..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Implementing a new methodology for your team that requires people to be more focused, aligned and accountable doesn't always have everyone..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Many companies have nicely bound and thick strategic plans. Thick plans. What I call high "thud factor" plans. So heavy that if you drop..
“Who should attend our annual planning session? Should it just be my executive team?” I get asked this question all the time. The default..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Each year, we put together a financial budget for the upcoming year. We try to anticipate what the new year will bring in Revenues and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Fall is finally in the air - the season for celebrating the close of another year and preparing for a fresh new start in the year to come...
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Thomas H., one of our subscribers, asked, "What are some best practices on the planning notes features in Rhythm software?"
You're busily..
The fast growing Charlotte-based YPO company, AvidXchange, has grown from $12 to $48 million in the past three years and is shaping the..
Annual Planning is a key component in any successful company's Plan Rhythm. It's the linchpin that connects strategy to execution. It's the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
This is going to be a great year! You spent two full days working hard, envisioning the year you want, having the tough conversations,..
I'm excited to be leading a breakout session at our upcoming Breakthrough Conference. Admittedly, at first, I was a little nervous. Then, I..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Having been with Rhythm since 2010, I have some teams that have done over 20 consecutive quarterly planning sessions. Can you imagine the..
Since the publication of Les Propheties, Nostradamus has attracted loyal followers that, along with much of the press, give him credit for..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
We are officially in the swing of Q3! Did you have a nice vacation? Are you picking up slack for your tan-worshiping co-workers as we..
Recently, my colleague Tiffany wrote a post about Characteristics of Well-Written Priorities. Her post got me thinking that many of us..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
We are about a week away from the end of the quarter, and you can see the finish line for your 13-week race™! At this time, there are..
If you have ever downloaded any tools or other resources on our site, you know that we usually ask you about your Biggest Business..
It’s 11:00 am on Friday. I’m debriefing my colleagues on the great work Gautneau Alignment’s CEO has done to cure his team of KPI-tice when..
Have you noticed that everyone is always so busy? You hear it all the time - the most common answer I hear to “How are you?” is “I'm so..
Many CEOs I work with struggle with this same issue, and some don’t even know that they have a challenge. They present an idea to their..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Effective Meetings, Accountable Leaders & Teams
CEO Mike Praeger just kicked off AvidXchange’s 15th year in business. They celebrated their explosive growth over the last few years and..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Each quarter, after our Rhythm Elite clients complete their Quarterly Planning Session, they review their plan with their Rhythm Coach to..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Our next Valentine's Day contest winner is Cara R. Here's her question: "What is the best way to train someone on our team to facilitate a..
I think it was hour three into my Topgrading interview for my coaching position at Rhythm Systems when my McQuaig personality results were..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Don’t you hate it when you can’t find your magic crystal ball to tell HR how many resources you’ll need next year? As the new year gets..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
“Some people are so...helpless.”
At a recent quarterly planning session, one of the executives explained how he’s trying to communicate..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
I recently facilitated a client’s quarterly planning session. They really do a great job, having the discipline to spend two days planning..
Happy New Year! I hope your 2015 is off to a great start. Isn’t it great to come back to work after a nice refreshing break with a clean..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
One of my favorite comedy routines of all time is Abbott and Costello’s “Who’s on First.” Jerry Seinfeld and friends have an updated..
- Are you meeting weekly to discuss Cash forecast runways?
- Are you having monthly financial reviews with your executive team?
- Is your..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
A running joke among my friends and family is that I never met an internal combustion engine I did not like!
I started riding motorcycles..
Looking back at the most recent quarter turnover from Q3 to Q4, I realize that I introduced 14 new cascade teams to the power of Rhythm! ..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
“Innovation is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.”
- Albert Szent-Guorgi, 1937 Nobel Prize for..
In their webcast last week, coaches Chris Cosper and Cathy McCullough shared the most common reason that CEOs fail to have successful..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
I recently watched a webinar with Joseph Grenny and Marshall Goldsmith titled “Level Up: Influence to Get You From Here to There,” and I..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
It's hard to believe Annual Planning season is just around the corner again! Many of our teams have already scheduled their dates and are..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Are you ready for weeks 4, 5 and 6? With more than 100,000+ priorities planned and executed in Rhythm, we’ve begun to apply Rhythm research..
If your company is like ours, then you are heading into a few months with lots of travel and vacation time by different team members at..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
The quarterly planning session is a very expensive session. You've got your executive team out of the field for one to two days working..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
In working with clients recently to prepare for quarterly planning, I noticed a pattern of two questions I am frequently asked.
Question..
Setting Sail…
It was a less-than-energetic Strategic Thinking Session (Annual Planning Session) between the executive team members. The..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
The Story: As one CEO boasted to his executive team during a recent Annual Planning Session, "We well exceeded our acquisition goals this..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
What are the early warning signs?
- The team seems a little confused about what the priorities are. You say “A” and folks seem to think of..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
We are almost done with the first half of the quarter. You have a 13-Week Race. How are you doing? Do you have big projects that are..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Most people think of “listening” as a leadership skill. Leaders need to listen to their people. Yes, it is a leadership skill. And it is..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Every quarter is a 13 Week Race. Most of us have priorities to deliver and KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) to measure our progress. If..
Every quarter is made up of 13 weeks. To be successful, run it like a 13-Week Race. So how is your 13-Week Race coming along? We are about..
Polling data indicates that the public (in general) doesn’t trust those in elected leadership positions – and this mistrust sometimes..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
During times of organizational flux, it can become increasingly difficult to engage your employees in learning. Across the country and in..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
A winning quarter begins with a winning execution plan. My last blog showed how to create a killer plan for the new year. This blog will..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
Those of you who are familiar with and use the One Page Strategic Plan know that Columns 5 and 6 are for your Company’s Quarterly Plan and..
I just finished facilitating a Quarterly Planning session where I observed the executive team maturing before my very eyes. An outburst of..
You’ve invested the time and energy to come up with a solid plan for the quarter. You looked at data and forecasts and insights from the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
Your Annual Plan is complete! The Main Thing for the year is clear and speaks to the head and heart. Everyone knows the Annual Key..
I attended the Fortune Growth Summit in October and heard Ram Charan speak. Ram is a world-renowned business advisor, author and speaker..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
A client of mine recently asked me if I had read Playing to Win – How Strategy Really Works by A.G. Lafley and Roger L. Martin. Lafley is..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
When I receive calls from executives who have yet to enter the world of asking a consultative facilitator to help them through an Annual..
As we dive head-first into Annual Planning season, I was helping to review our Do-It-Yourself materials that we provide for Rhythm clients..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
End of year begins a heavy planning period for many of our clients – quarterly planning, annual planning, strategic 3-5 year planning, and..
A winning year begins with a winning execution plan. My prior blog posts on Rhythm 2.0 focused on how Rhythm helps you with a Think..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
If you have been using our Rhythm methodology for quarterly planning, you probably have come up with a solid plan complete with SMART..
In the words of Peter Senge, learning organizations are ”organizations where people continually expand their capacity to create the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Great companies first win on the basics, then they wow you with something special. And that’s the cherry on top! But if you don’t first..
How do you prepare for your annual planning session? How do you get the best data and insights to maximize the outcome of your planning..
Creating alignment can be a daunting task for any group of key executives. Great plans are made…activities discussed…task lists..
Does it always feel like your team is rushing to setup your annual or quarterly planning sessions? The days go by, and then all of a..
What is your approach to developing your execution plan for next year? Some companies will first develop their budgets and financial..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
How are your quarterly and annual planning meetings going? Are you the one who has to facilitate the meeting each time? Here are some..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Certain kinds of changes are easier to make than others; increasing and decreasing budgets, maintaining strategic alliances, completing a..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
With Q4 just around the corner, many teams are getting ready for their quarterly planning sessions. During your session, inevitably,..
Quarterly Planning time is upon us again. In our company, Rhythm Systems, that’s a big deal. Each one of our consultants will be meeting..
Every company hits a crisis once in a while. It is not a question of whether you will hit one. It's a question of when you will hit one,..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
With most of my clients feverishly planning for Q3, the subject of what makes a good Company Priority is hot right now. Here are a few..
Have you performed an inventory and explored what internal assets you have in your business lately? Most companies have assets that can..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Imagine your team was put on a mission to create three snowballs that were six feet tall before it gets dark. The only rule was that the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Q1 is over. I like to think of every quarter as a 13 week race. The only way to have a great year is to have 4 great quarters, one at a..
According to a Harvard Business Review study, fully one quarter of the highest-potential people in your company intend to jump ship within..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
"Think before you communicate." Simple words with great impact shared with me from the CEO of a Warren Buffet owned company. What new ways..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
I’ve been reading the latest publication from Verne Harnish, The Greatest Business Decisions of All Time, and was reminded of several..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Taking the Rhythm methodology to the next level of management is a great way to achieve alignment throughout the organization and provide..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
At this time of year, companies are investing massive amounts of resources in an effective Annual Planning Session. Executive teams are..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Simms Fishing is an amazing company with a truly inspiring year ahead of them. Their uncompromising desire to put out the highest quality..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Everything looks like a failure in the middle. Sometimes the path to success can feel like a failure - and sometimes failure is a part of..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
Doing What Matters, by James Kilts (Three Rivers Press, 2010), is an update of the frank-talking and insightful original released in 2007...
Bringing your team together for a few days of Annual Planning requires a big investment of time, energy and money. You may have flown..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
So, it's annual planning time, and your folks are getting together for the much anticipated planning session. The meeting begins, and we..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
- Proper Quarterly Planning Rhythms. In order to achieve organizational alignment, there needs to be an established planning Rhythm that..
So, you take Jim Collins’ First Who, Then What principle seriously. You invest a tremendous amount of time sourcing and selecting the..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Recently, I have been working with many Rhythm clients who are cascading to their sales teams. The first question I get is this: "We have..
Jim Collins talks about the 20 mile march in chapter 4 of his book "Great By Choice". If you have not read this book yet, you should...
Annual Planning is one of the most important things you and your executive team will do this Fall. It sets the stage for the next year..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
We are getting into Q4. It is a good time to begin thinking about what the plan for the next year is going to be. Consider how you will..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Most companies are notoriously good at creating wonderful strategic plans each year. They'll spend a couple of days hashing through..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Recent conversations with CEOs have reminded me of an age-old challenge in organizations: People. After a recent telephone consultation..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Quarterly Planning sessions are meant to define key initiatives that will be focused on over the next 90 days in support of your..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
Wouldn't it be great to walk in the office on the first day of summer and tell your entire team to take the next 3 months off? While an..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
It’s Week 7 and your star Sales Director just quit, your biggest customer is asking for a discount (or else) and your General Counsel just..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning
Q2 has already started. We should all be off and running on our 13 week race. Strong business execution needs a good rhythm. I like to..
Topics: Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution, Accountable Leaders & Teams
Setting SMART Red-Yellow-Green success criteria is challenging enough, but now you want me to fit it into 30 characters or less? ..
So you have a strategic plan? That's awesome! Congratulations! You are doing better than the majority of the companies doing business..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution
Happy New Year to our friends and customers! Here is to a great 2012.
As you begin your new year, here are a couple of ideas and..
Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, KPIs & Dashboards, Strategy Execution
After our webcast on Mid Year adjustments, I received a couple more questions regarding using the SSK tool. Thought I would share them on..
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Topics: Strategies for Growth, Annual & Quarterly Planning, Strategy Execution