July marks the halfway point of the year—a natural pause that offers an ideal opportunity to reflect, recalibrate, and refocus. Whether you’re leading a nonprofit organization or running a small business, your strategic plan isn’t meant to sit on a shelf gathering dust. It’s a living document—and now’s the perfect time to bring it back to life.
A mid-year check-in helps you see what’s working, identify what’s not, and make proactive decisions for the rest of the year. Best of all, it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Below are practical tools and tips you can implement immediately to get back on track and finish the year strong.
🔍 Step 1: Review Your Strategic Plan
Start by pulling out your original strategic plan or roadmap for 2024. Whether it’s a formal document or a more informal goals list, revisit what you committed to back in January.
Ask yourself and your team:
- What goals did we set for the year?
- Which have we met, exceeded, or fallen behind on?
- Are these goals still relevant given current conditions?
📌 Pro Tip: If your strategic plan isn’t easily accessible or clear, use this time to streamline and reformat it. A one-page strategy summary can be a powerful tool for ongoing clarity.
🧠 Step 2: Conduct a Quick SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) is a quick and effective way to take stock of where your organization or business stands mid-year.
Use these questions as a guide:
- Strengths: What are we doing well? What’s our competitive advantage?
- Weaknesses: Where are we struggling? What systems or skills need improvement?
- Opportunities: Are there new markets, partnerships, or funding streams we can explore?
- Threats: What external factors (economic, political, funding-related) could derail our progress?
📌 Tool to Try: Use a free SWOT template in Google Docs or Canva to complete this exercise with your team or board.
📊 Step 3: Evaluate Core Metrics
You can’t improve what you don’t measure. Select 3–5 key performance indicators (KPIs) that reflect the core health of your business or nonprofit. These may vary by organization, but here are some common ones:
For Small Businesses:
- Revenue year-to-date vs. projections
- Client retention rate
- Lead conversion rate
- Average sale per customer
For Nonprofits:
- Total donations vs. year-to-date goal
- Donor retention rate
- Program participation or outcomes
- Grant funding secured
📌 Pro Tip: Use a simple spreadsheet or free tools like Google Data Studio to visualize trends. A 15-minute snapshot review can quickly highlight which areas need attention.
🤝 Step 4: Schedule a Mid-Year Strategy Session
Even a short, focused meeting can bring clarity and boost morale. Host a 30- to 60-minute session with your team, board, or key advisors to reflect on what’s working and decide where to shift focus.
Try this simple 3-part agenda:
- Look Back: What have we accomplished since January?
- Check In: What’s stuck or slowing us down?
- Look Ahead: What should we shift or prioritize in Q3 and Q4?
Encourage open feedback. You’ll often uncover small tweaks with big potential—like reallocating staff time, adjusting a program, or streamlining a product offering.
📌 Tool to Try: Use collaborative platforms like Miro or Jamboard for interactive sessions, especially if you’re working remotely.
🧭 Step 5: Revisit and Adjust Your Goals
Now that you’ve reviewed your progress and gained input, it’s time to make adjustments. Rewriting your entire strategic plan isn’t necessary—but refining it is key.
Ask:
- What goals no longer serve our mission or revenue model?
- Which goals need to be broken into smaller, actionable steps?
- Where should we double down our time and resources?
Be honest with yourself: Sometimes “letting go” of a goal is the best strategic move.
📌 Quick Win: Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to redefine any fuzzy or vague goals.
📅 Step 6: Create a 90-Day Action Plan
Once your updated goals are in place, break them into a 90-day action plan. Why 90 days? It’s short enough to stay focused—but long enough to see results.
Your 90-day plan should include:
- Top 3 priorities for the next quarter
- Specific action steps for each priority
- Who is responsible
- Key deadlines or benchmarks
📌 Tool to Try: Trello, Asana, or ClickUp are excellent tools for building out and assigning quarterly goals—even for solo consultants or small teams.
💬 Step 7: Communicate the Plan
Don’t keep your mid-year momentum a secret. Share your refreshed goals and focus areas with your team, board, or key supporters. This builds buy-in, accountability, and enthusiasm.
For nonprofits:
- Send a brief update to donors or funders showing your impact so far and what’s coming next.
- Use this moment to reconnect with lapsed supporters or share a summer stewardship campaign.
For small businesses:
- Let your audience know what new offerings, services, or changes are coming.
- Share your excitement—and invite feedback through email or social media.
📌 Bonus Tip: Consider a short blog post, social media update, or newsletter to celebrate your mid-year wins and share what’s ahead.
🔄 Step 8: Set a Reminder to Review Monthly
A mid-year review is powerful—but ongoing check-ins make it sustainable. Choose one day a month (e.g., the first Friday) to:
- Review metrics
- Check progress against your 90-day plan
- Note any roadblocks
- Adjust timelines or delegate as needed
📌 Tool to Try: Set a recurring calendar reminder or use a simple monthly dashboard to track performance over time.
Final Thoughts
July may feel slow—but it’s full of potential. Taking the time for a mid-year check-in gives you clarity, refocuses your efforts, and strengthens your leadership. Whether you’re running a nonprofit, managing a small business, or doing both, now is the perfect moment to ask: Are we doing the right things, in the right way, for the right reasons?
The answer—and the impact—starts with a plan.
Need help building or refining your strategic plan?
Let’s talk. I help nonprofits and small businesses create intentional, actionable strategies that work in the real world. Message me today to set up a free consultation.