A Leader’s 6-Week Strategic Roadmap For Year-End
This article originally appeared on Forbes.com.
As another year winds down, leaders often fall into one of two costly traps: prematurely shifting focus to next year’s goals or charging through December on frenzied autopilot. Both are missed opportunities, as the final weeks of a year are crucial for strategic planning and positioning.
Chief Learning Officer research shows strategic planning tops the list of executive development priorities, surpassing business acumen, emotional intelligence, innovation and coaching. But according to Bridges Business Consultancy, 48% of leaders dedicate less than one day per month to strategy, focusing instead on daily operations.
Instead of letting valuable time slip away at year-end, leaders can approach these final weeks of 2024 with intention, reflection and purpose. While this guidance applies broadly to all leaders looking to advance in 2025, it is particularly relevant for women of color leaders navigating complex organizational dynamics.
Here’s a six-week strategic roadmap to help you close the year off strong and set yourself up for sustained success in 2025.
Week 1: Relationship Audit And Power Mapping
Map your organization’s existing and incoming power players for 2025. Pay extra attention to who makes budget decisions and who leads high-priority projects and verticals.
Identify three key relationships that need strengthening before year-end.
Schedule meetings and coffee chats for early January.
Action item: Create a “Strategic 10” list—the relationships that will be most important for your leadership trajectory in 2025. In crafting this list, consider each candidate’s scope of influence, decision-making authority and ability to champion your advancement.
Week 2: Visibility Sprint
Document your 2024 wins (quantify and add metrics to everything you can).
Share three significant project outcomes with influential stakeholders.
Secure one speaking opportunity for Q1 2025 (this may require pitching yourself for multiple opportunities).
Action item: Draft your Impact Report, a one-pager detailing the value and positive contributions you made in 2024.
Week 3: Knowledge Gap Assessment
Review and reflect on industry trends that emerged in Q4.
Identify two high-priority skills you’ll need to strengthen for 2025 and beyond—for example, learning to use AI technologies to improve decision-making and developing stronger team leadership abilities.
Register for one high-impact learning opportunity in Q1.
Action item: Develop a 2x2 matrix of skills relevant to your 2025 goals with urgency and current proficiency level as the axes. Focus primarily on building the skills in the high-urgency, low-proficiency quadrant and secondarily on those in the high-urgency, high-proficiency quadrant
Week 4: Support System Strengthening
Evaluate your current mentor and sponsor relationships.
Identify potential new sponsors based on your 2025 goals.
Schedule year-end check-ins with your personal board of directors.
Action item: Map out your 2025 support network action plan—a list of who you’ll approach for different needs and how often you’ll initiate outreach to them.
Week 5: Strategic Positioning
Review upcoming organizational changes and opportunities.
Identify two high-visibility projects to pursue in Q1.
Draft your narrative for desired role changes or promotions.
Action item: Plot your 2025 advancement timeline with projects, initiatives and role transitions you’ll pursue each quarter.
Week 6: Personal Brand Refinement
Update your leadership story and personal brand statement with your 2024 achievements.
Refresh your LinkedIn and professional materials and assets.
Schedule Q1 writing opportunities on platforms like LinkedIn, your website, your company’s blog or newsletter.
Action item: Outline your thought leadership calendar for Q1, repurposing content where applicable. Keep in mind significant events, like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month and Women’s History Month.
Following this 6-week plan isn’t just about checking boxes. It’s about laying the groundwork for long-term success, with each week building upon the previous one to generate lasting momentum. After six weeks, you’ll have a clear roadmap for 2025, key relationships primed for Q1 conversations, documented wins ready to leverage and a cohesive narrative that positions you for new leadership opportunities. Most importantly, you’ll have momentum while others are still getting back into gear after the holidays.
Don’t let these crucial weeks slip away. Your career trajectory depends on how you finish the year, not simply how you start it. Even completing 70% of this plan puts you ahead of most leaders entering 2025. The time to shape next year’s success isn’t January 1—it’s right now.
