Mid-year is a critical checkpoint for every business strategy.
As the saying goes, “No plan survives first contact with the enemy.”
In business, the “enemy” isn’t a single threat — it’s shifting markets, stretched teams, unexpected fires to put out, and competing priorities, that pull you off course. Even with the best-laid strategy, you will hit times where you can feel like you’ve been in reactive mode instead of executing your plan.
Most leadership teams experience this at some point. The difference between those who recover and those who don’t is whether they stop, reflect, and reset.
If the first half hasn’t gone to plan, use your mid-year review to ask four critical questions:
- What have we achieved so far?
Recognise the wins, big and small. Progress deserves attention – it shifts the mindset from “we’re behind” to “we’re capable.” - What’s changed since January?
Markets move, teams change, and new priorities emerge. Be honest about what’s shifted. Update the 12-month priorities to reflect any changes. - Which goals no longer deserve our time?
Give yourself permission to put a line through projects or targets (across quarterly, 12-month, or 3 year goals) that no longer move you forward. - What actions will have the biggest impact in the next 90 days?
Focus on 3–5 critical actions that make the biggest dent in your big-picture goals. Make them SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
From Reflection to Action
Once these questions are answered, it’s time to move forward with clarity:
- Build a fresh 90-day action plan for the next quarter.
- Assign accountable project leaders for each priority.
- Have each leader develop a plan for sign off.
- Publish the plan and give it a name to drive momentum.
Every team hits bumps. The best don’t avoid them – they reset, refocus, and power through the next 90 days.