Getting Your RIA To The Next Level: Did You Gain Momentum and See Results In The Past 90 Days? Hot

The key to successfully making progress in growing a more successful firm is constantly and consistently focusing and working on Steps 4-6 after Steps 1-3 are set.  Each 90-day period provides the right timeframe to complete (at least make progress on) high priority short-term tasks and projects.

Here is a recap of the six steps to help your firm get to the next level.

Step One: Create a strategic plan and refer to it throughout the year to guide the firm.

This step is a series of smaller decisions that need to be determined by the leaders of the firm.  It includes deciding on a mission (core focus) and vision (who and what is your organization, where is it going, how is it going to get there) just to name a few. The vision will point you to where you want to be in the future.  From there, develop longer-term goals (more than 90 days) and identify shorter-term tasks and projects (less than 90 days) that need to be completed to reach your longer-term goals.

Develop your updated 90-day goals to reach by September 30. Roll over any from the previous 90-days that still need to be completed. 

Have you developed your strategic plan and refer to it on an ongoing basis? Have you identified your vision? What are your longer-term goals? What tasks and projects need to be assigned and completed to reach your 90-day goals?

Step Two: Assign someone in your firm the role of “Implementer.”

In a smaller firm, the Implementer will likely be the President/Owner.  In a larger firm, you may (should) have someone else with the right skill set to handle this role.  It would be a good fit for someone handling the COO responsibilities or it could also be outsourced to a business coach (someone who can hold staff accountable).

The key responsibilities of this role are: 1) make sure the firm has the correct staff in place to reach longer-term goals, 2) prioritize shorter-term tasks and projects and ensure that progress is being made on these as well as toward reaching the longer-term goals, 3) assign tasks to the correct staff members and hold them accountable for completing these.

Holding your staff accountable for completing these shorter-term tasks is critically important to reaching the longer-term goals and ultimately the future vision of your firm.

Identify someone to fill this role or you may forever be stuck in a rut. The Implementer role is extremely important for continuing to make positive progress toward your longer-term goals.

Who is the “Implementer” for your firm?

 Step Three: Make sure you have the right staff in place to execute your strategy.

Sometimes, for a variety of reasons, the person in a particular role is not the best person for the position. Sometimes they start out strong in the role, but over time, their career path interest and/or strengths may change. The employee may also have outgrown their previous role. As the firm’s needs change, this leads to changes in employee’s responsibilities. Make sure you are always staying slightly ahead of your firm’s personnel needs. 

Analyze your current staff and identify any changes or additions you need to make. Do you have the correct staff in place for your future anticipated needs?
 
Step Four: Focus on critical tasks and projects that move the firm toward longer-term goals.

Look at all the issues your firm struggles with and the projects you need to work on to move your firm ahead.  Prioritize each issue and place those with the highest “need to be completed” in the next 90 days at the top of the list. Decide what can and needs to be completed today and this week to remove the issue or gets you closer to completing the project.

What issues and projects need your attention TODAY?

What can you do today and this week that moves you closer to resolving issues and completing tasks and projects?

What tasks and projects need to be assigned and completed to reach your 90-day goals (from Step 1)?

 Step Five: Assign accountability for completing the shorter-term tasks and projects.

Once the issues and tasks have been identified, assign accountability for completing each of these. Spread them out to the correct individual(s) and place deadline dates on each task.

Who will be responsible for each issue, task, and project your firm is working on?

Step Six: Measure your progress.

Have the Implementer meet weekly with your staff to measure your progress on the shorter-term issues, tasks and projects.  The Implementer also has authority to hold people accountable. This is also the time to address anything holding up completing these by the dates set.  After these weekly progress meetings have been held consistently, when the 90-day time period is reached, you will begin seeing progress toward your longer-term goals. Once progress is witnessed by your staff, it develops momentum in the organization.

Are you consistently and methodically measuring your progress?

Results?

If you followed these Six Steps in January beginning with Discipline, Patience, and Focus during the first 90-day period, you should have gained Momentum during the second 90-day period. Now, in the third 90-day period, you should begin seeing Results. Have you started to notice results (few or many)? 

If you follow these Six Steps consistently, you will notice progress. Seeing progress develops confidence among your team and builds momentum.

I’ll follow up again in 90 days (Quarter 4) to see if you are ending the year making progress toward your goals for 2013.  It takes discipline, patience, and focus to create momentum and see results.

2013 is almost gone (forever). Finish the year strong. Keep moving toward your goals! 

Build your business wisely.

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