The Missing Piece of Q4 Strategy That Unlocks Higher Performance

What sets my biggest and brightest clients up for success in Q4 might surprise you.

They’re not scrambling, hoping to get their team focused and motivated. They’re not putting all of their energy into closing as many things off as possible before the Christmas holidays.

They’re way past that.

In Q4, they’re focusing on clarity.

First, they know that they can rely on the plans they set in Q3 for Q4, and they’re sailing the course as planned. Now, it’s just about execution – helping their team stay clear on what matters, make better decisions, and get to those better decisions – faster.

This preparation frees them up to do exactly what sets them apart as true leaders, both at work and in their lives – and which brings me to my second insight for you – they get clear on how they want to set themselves up for the New Year.

They’re not waiting for the fireworks. They’re not asking for signs.

They know who they are and who they are becoming in the New Year, no matter whether their end-of-year bonus comes in or not. Or how they feel about their current role. 

And I find this second habit especially telling. It reveals a lot about a person’s health, relationship happiness, and success.

Because most people are riding the waves of the calendar year… They’re trying to avoid getting washed up and being seen scratching sand from unseemly places. They’re so engrossed in trying not to fail at one end of the beach, they become enslaved what’s in front of them, and become easily frustrated. They’re playing a game of keeping their cool while working under blistering heat.

In comparison, true leaders are balancing on their boards while getting curious. They keep one eye on the waves, and another on waters in unchartered territory. They know that no matter the size of the swell here and now, it doesn’t determine who they are or decide how successful they can become. They know there is more beach where this came from, and they’re getting clear on the many ways this could become possible.

When we lose sight of the bigger picture, we fixate on protecting the little we have. We feel under-resourced and overwhelmed by impossible asks. But we are told to simply “be resilient”, so in good faith, we ride each week in hope that the tide will turn in our favour, eventually. Even when we know that living this way isn’t good for us.

I’m sharing this with you because maybe you’ve got engrossed in tunnel vision. You’re maxed out, so you think, “If I can just hang on through this quarter, things will get better”.

Sometimes, they do. But, from what I’ve seen, hope is the slower and riskier option. It also burns out your health.

The more you get curious about who you could become before the New Year, the more you become clear on how to set yourself up for momentum and new success.

At the end of the day, quarters and New Years don’t really matter when it comes to deciding how to set yourself up. Yet, they are like flags, marking spaces in time to work with.

If you’re interested in gaining clarity and are curious about guidance to get there, hit reply and let me know where your head (or heart) is at. I have capacity for three new clients in the run up to the New Year. It would be an honour to work with you.