Template

Annual planning meeting template

Once a year: look back honestly, agree the few things that matter most next year, the money and people behind them, and what you will stop doing to make room.

240 minutesFor The leadership team, with prepared input from every departmentAgenda room
Change the agenda first

The agenda, with a time for each part

  1. The year honestly40 min
    • What worked, what did not, and what did we learn?
  2. What is changing around us30 min
    • What is different about customers, competitors and the market?
  3. The few priorities60 min
    • If we could only get three things right next year, which?
  4. Money and people50 min
    • What does each priority need, and where does it come from?
  5. What we stop30 min
    • What are we doing now that does not serve any priority?
  6. Owners and the first quarter30 min
    • Who owns each priority, and what is done by the end of March?

How the notes read afterwards

A made-up example, so you can see the shape. In a real call each line carries the words that were said and who said them.

Look back. Revenue grew 40%; churn doubled in the second half.

Priorities. Halve churn; launch in Germany; get the team to 40 people without breaking.

Money. Two extra support hires; Germany budget $300k.

Stop. The partner programme and the second product, until next year.

Running it well

Ways to change it

Two daysDay one looking back and outward; day two choosing and resourcing.
Small companyHalf a day: look back, three priorities, budget, stop list.

When to skip it. Never skip it; shorten it if nothing important has changed.

Questions

What is annual planning?

The yearly process of reviewing the past year, choosing the organisation's priorities for the next one, and agreeing the budget, people and owners behind them.

When should annual planning happen?

Usually six to ten weeks before the new year starts, so budgets and hiring can be ready in time.

How many priorities should an annual plan have?

Usually three to five, so each gets real money, people and attention.

What happens in the room

Everybody joins from the link, with no account. The agenda sits beside the call and each item fills in with what was said about it, under the name of the person who said it.

More templates

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