Mark Miller, the COO of Merritt Clubs, shares the importance of plan reviews.
The first quarter of 2023 is behind us and many have had a great start to the year. However, some may have had a mediocre one and others may be struggling to continue to excel in this new landscape we are all experiencing.
Many times, when we start a new year we create budgets and plans with the best intentions. We hope they work themselves out, and yet we wait until the end of the year to determine whether or not we are successful. Instead of allowing that to happen, why don’t you turn 2023 into a great year?
One of the things fighter pilots, Navy SEALs and anybody in the military are known for is executing their plans. I once heard someone say, “Planning without action is just daydreaming.” Many clubs I consult with put plans together, yet they aren’t really plans or even actionable. This year I don’t want to wait for results, I want to define and control them.
Going back to the military and SEALs, the most elite are known for conducting two types of plan reviews. One is what is referred to as the After Action Review (AAR). Basically, it’s an opportunity to look at your plan, or mission in their case, and see if it was executed the way you wanted. You get a chance to look back on a plan and what happened. Did it play out as intended? How did the landscape change over the past 100 days?
At Merritt Clubs, we like to break our planning into 100 days rather than a 12-month cycle. This gives us an opportunity to stay focused and energized, then really commit to executing on our actions and have that opportunity to reflect back and adjust where needed. In the world today, flexibility and adaptability are first-order tools for leaders.
Once you’ve done a thorough and complete AAR review — which can be done monthly — you need to go back to your master plan and vision to adjust, adapt and reengage where needed. To ensure you win, you must continue to get better.
We’re in April and that means the first 100 days of our year are here. Are we on point? Are we doing what is needed? What skills and actions do we need to elevate or amp up our 2023 results? Asking the right questions now will lead to the right ending later. Take time to get out of the day to day or first agenda and get into the second and third agendas. Impact your team, your clubs and your life now. Conduct one of the two most important reviews and your 2023 will be a great one.
