The weeks leading up to our quarterly session day are always chaotic. How do we prepare our minds and operational data so we do not arrive at the session completely exhausted?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Arriving at a quarterly session day in a state of exhaustion defeats the purpose of strategic planning. To prevent this, your leadership team must practice what Juliet Funt calls a strategic pause in the days leading up to our session. This means carving out a dedicated block of unscheduled time to step away from daily operational fires, recuperate your mental energy, and reflect on the past ninety days. During this time, you should review your V/TO®, your current Scorecard metrics, and your progress on Rocks without the pressure of active task lists. We also streamline our data preparation. You should gather your financial reports and key performance indicators well in advance, rather than scrambling the night before. By organizing your data early, you can enter the session day with a clear mind and a highly objective view of the business. This disciplined preparation allows us to dive straight into deep, impactful work during our session, maximizing our time together. When you prioritize this mental white space, you arrive energized, focused, and ready to solve big issues.