In our latest survey, 54% of Australian business leaders said they only review their business strategy when “something changes” or when they’re forced to.
That’s not a plan. That’s a reaction.
And when you’re operating like that, it’s easy to miss warning signs, or worse, opportunities you didn’t see coming. Without regular check-ins, strategy drifts. Goals blur. Priorities clash. Growth stalls.
A solid strategy is how you adjust as things shift without losing sight of where you’re heading.
That’s where a quarterly strategy check-in becomes essential.
So why aren’t more businesses doing it?
What it costs to “wait and see”
There’s a reason you can’t leave strategy on the shelf.
- Markets change. Customer needs evolve. Competitors make moves.
- What worked three months ago might not be working now – and by the time you realise, you’ve lost time and momentum.
- Without regular reflection, you end up chasing symptoms instead of solving problems.
Missed signs might include slipping margins, CAC creeping higher, higher customer churn, a project that keeps blowing budget, or a product line that no one’s excited about anymore.
On their own, these issues might seem minor. But over time, they add up to missed growth, wasted spend, and low team engagement.
You don’t need to overthink your strategy process. But you do need a rhythm.
A simple quarterly check-in framework
Even the best-run businesses drift off course now and then. The goal isn’t to lock in a rigid 12-month plan and hope for the best—it’s to keep checking where you are and adjusting the route when needed.
Here’s a simple quarterly check-in you can use with your leadership team, finance lead, or board.
- Revisit your goals. Are they still relevant? Has anything major changed in your market, customers, or internal capacity that needs to be reflected in your goals?
Start by reviewing the 3–5 strategic objectives you set at the beginning of the year. If you didn’t set them, now’s the time.
- Review financial performance. How did the quarter track against budget?
Were gross margins, cash flow, or burn rate within your targets?
Any red flags in your revenue mix or customer acquisition costs?
Be clear on your key metrics. What are the 2–3 numbers that best reflect how your business is performing and whether your strategy is working? These might shift slightly over time, but putting in the work to define them upfront means you’ll have a consistent, meaningful way to measure progress.
- Look at operational health. Are projects on track? Are teams running smoothly? Is delivery consistent?
Gather both hard data (KPI reports) and softer signals (team sentiment, customer feedback). Often it’s the informal stuff that reveals the early warning signs.
- Scan for risk and opportunity. What’s shifted outside your walls? Are there economic, regulatory, or competitor changes that affect your strategy?
Don’t wait for a disruption to react. Even small things (like a new player in your niche or a change in customer behaviour) can give you a chance to act early.
- Reset for the next quarter. What needs to shift? What’s no longer relevant? What’s your team focused on next?
End each check-in with 3 clear priorities and who’s responsible for each. Keep it tight. Don’t try to fix everything—just move forward with clarity.
Make it part of the rhythm
Strategy doesn’t belong in a crisis folder. It belongs in your quarterly calendar.
- Book the session ahead of time—same week every quarter.
- Invite key decision-makers. Share data beforehand.
- Keep the session focused. Not a report-out. A review and refocus.
The takeaway
If you’re only thinking about strategy when something breaks, you’re already behind.
Regular check-ins don’t just prevent problems. They help you spot momentum early, stay focused on the right goals, and adapt without chaos.
Vital Addition works with businesses and financial teams to bring financial and operational clarity to strategy conversations to ensure decisions are grounded, timely, and useful.
Want to build a better rhythm for growth?