4 Questions For Q4

By Jillian Broaddus and Chuck Cusumano

“Fourth quarter” may elicit certain feelings now that football season is officially in full swing.  Fantasy team rivalries and weekend game highlights may dominate water cooler talk, but there’s also another fourth quarter in play…

That’s right: It’s already Q4.  With less than 100 days to go until we turn the calendar to a new year, it’s time to assess your own progress before the final countdown.  Since the rush of year-end deadlines and holiday chaos is sure to soon descend upon us, we thought now would be the perfect time to take a moment for four important questions to ask yourself and your leadership team.

Let’s dive in…

1. What “buzzer beaters” do you hope to accomplish?  Before we reflect on the first 75% of the year, let’s focus on the remaining quarter.  What goals are still on the table?  What achievement would your team consider a major “win” if checked off before the end of 2025?  The clock is ticking, and your prioritization matters now more than ever.

2. What are you most proud of this year?  Forget the metrics and the dashboards.  When you look back on 2025 in January or five January’s from now, which initiatives will stand out?  Where did you move the needle in ways that the numbers don’t necessarily tell?  Once you have these wins in mind, celebrate!  Then, consider what helped make them possible.  Clarity? Consistency? The courage to take a calculated risk? Understanding what drove success will help make it repeatable.

3. Where did we fall short—and why? No leader, team, or business goes through an entire year unscathed.  Even the accomplishments you previously looked back on for Question 2 likely encountered some hurdles or setbacks.  However, reflection can turn failure into feedback, and the fourth quarter is a prime opportunity to identify these lessons before entering Q1.

4. Finally, what story do you want to tell on January 1?  The New Year is a new chance to rewrite your story, or to pick up where you left off and continue the growth.  No matter which direction you want to go, ensure you have a vision in mind now, so you can hit the ground running in a few short months.

The best leaders know that how you finish this year can define how you start the next one.  We’d love to talk to you as you reflect and goal-set!  Simply reach out to us at hello@thejoshuagroup.net.