Many businesses left the office at the end of 2020 pretty happy to see the back of the year. 2021 promised great things, a return to normalcy, and plenty of business improvements. However, we’re now at the end of January, and some are finding that not everything has gone to plan.
The issue is, most of us spend December winding down for year. We have high hopes of hitting the ground running in January, but it’s difficult if you haven’t laid a foundation. So, if you were looking forward to some heavy business planning and moving forward in January but it hasn’t quite happened, you’re not alone.
January – the quickest month in business
We often talk about the importance of planning in December. Whether it be getting the ball rolling on new software, or starting a business process analysis, what you do in December flows directly into January.
The reason many businesses get caught off-guard, is they haven’t investigated or started any of these bigger projects in December. January comes around, and before you know it, February is here. You’ve got staff on holidays, there’s public holidays to contend with, and there’s also a lot of catch-up work from your break.
However, if January hasn’t quite been the bonanza of business planning you hoped for, all is not lost.
What business planning has fallen through?
Firstly, it’s time to look at what fell through the cracks. All those things you thought about in December are still perfectly valid. Did you want to overhaul your internal software system? Did you want to start a website redevelopment? Maybe you considered integrating a CRM into our business.
Whatever plans you had, it’s not too late, but you need to identify your priorities now. Many of those larger business projects aren’t quick, so the sooner you get back on the business planning train, the better off you’ll be.
Don’t wait, strike before another month goes by
Once you know exactly which projects you want to pursue, don’t hesitate. Remember, February is a short month too! Before you know it, you’re limping into March and all you’ve done is play catch up for two months. But by getting started now, you can ensure your business planning doesn’t go to waste. In fact, most business process improvement or software enhancements make life easier, especially when coming back from the end of year shutdown.
So, don’t delay getting started on these projects, because they can have a huge impact on your business.
Business planning is a long-term proposition
Finally, remember that old saying about Rome. Business planning is all about priorities, and often things need to be done in a certain order. Do you build your new website first, and worry about custom software opportunities later? Or can multiple projects occur together? Speak to your trusted consultants for advice on how to move forward.
Ultimately, it takes time and money to improve your business, so take a strategic approach to everything you do. As long as you’re doing something.
About Author
