3 Great Q4 Questions To Ask
Here it is! It’s here! The first day of Q4 – the last quarter of 2018. It sneaks in like any other Monday….and before you know it, it’ll be Friday again. And then November. And then we’ll be talking about that illusive December shutdown that promises to punctuate the end of the year and give us time to breath, and which it seldom does somehow…
This year, we’re going to do it differently. This year, we’re going to harness what remains of 2018 and make it powerful. We’re going to get that mental, physical and emotional downtime over December and we’re going to make 2019 our best year yet!! And we’re going to start TODAY!
Today, I’ll be holding a Q4 Assessment called End The Year Strong in Harare. I’ll be repeating this assessment for various teams in their own spaces throughout the week to ensure these teams are mentally prepared and connected to each other and to their plan for the remainder of 2018. Clarity and confidence will be our outcomes.
For those of you unable to join us, here are 3 great Q4 Questions to ask yourselves:
1. What are our 3 biggest goals for 2019?
Look up. Regardless of what’s on your mind and whatever you’re deep in the middle of right now, look up and look forward. Ask yourself what’s most important for you to achieve next year? What do you WANT to achieve next year? If you could achieve ANYTHING next year, what would it be? Grab an A4 piece of paper, divide it into our normal 3 categories (Professional, Personal and Financial) and jot down the 3 most important goals for next year in each column.
Just the process of calling them to mind and writing them down is powerful. What’s even more powerful is setting some time to mentally walk around in those goals and figure out which steps you need to take to make them happen. They’re not here yet….you have time. And at this distance, you can imagine what could be before the pressure hits and 2019 arrives. So be a little light hearted about it. Have a giggle. What’s possible?
2. What are our 3 essential goals for the remainder of 2018?
Forget momentarily how the year has gone so far. Disengage from all the hiccups, hurdles and goal-post-moving. Shake yourself, recalibrate and take a fresh look at what remains of the year right now. By the time Q4 rolls around, many of our annual goals are too broad or outdated to apply to the short-term nature of a fourth quarter sprint. Make a list of 3 essential goals for the remainder of this year. What MUST be achieved to make this year powerful? Are there any foundation-laying goals that must be put in place in order for the Q1 goals you detailed in #1 to build on top of? Make a list. And then if it’s not on the list, it’s not a priority as this last 3 months catapults itself by.
3. How can we put ourselves in front of our clients and serve?
Whether Q4 is a quiet one for you where your fried brain can get a little relief, or whether Q4 is your busiest period of the year…refocus for a minute on the fact that whatever we do relies on the input of others. Business, no matter what your industry, is ultimately about human relationship. Relationship with your client. Your customer. Regardless of what your input or relationship has been this year, the end of Q4 presents a unique opportunity to put yourself in front of your clients in a way that isn’t a sales call. Whether it’s social, or just a card or an email… there are a myriad of ways and reasons to make yourself present with your clients (past, present, future) and to thank you them, acknowledge them, serve them. Give out some free info. Make or invite contact. Give ear to how you can serve them for 2019. Most importantly of all, communicate in a way that underlines your values and why you do what you do – because THAT, after all, is why they connect with you and come back. Plan it now.
by Christen Killick
October 1st, 2018