Most practices overlook the most important activity of the year.

They do what’s felt to be important, required or expected.

That’s most likely these, and maybe only these:

☑️ Year end accounts

☑️ Appraisals

☑️ Salary review

☑️ Put the Christmas tree up

They’re all important and valuable, but they’re about reviewing the past.

The most important activity is not on that list because many practices don’t do it every year. Some possibly have never done it.

If those are the only things you insist on doing each year then you’re standing still at best. There’s nothing there that focuses on the future. You’re not doing anything annually that ensures your development and improvement.

There should be an annual activity that’s guaranteed to happen. It is one of the most important points of your year.

It’s about:

✅ Easing workload pressures

✅ Improving staff retention and morale

✅ Maximising profitability

✅ Enhancing patient outcomes

✅ Making the practice more resilient

It’s the creation of your annual business plan.

For my 13 years in practice this was and is the most important activity of the year, along with the annual presentation of the accounts. One reporting on the business performance of the past year. The other setting the direction for the performance of the year ahead.

Whatever else your practice does each year, make sure it’s creating an annual business plan. Set protected time aside, get away from the practice, and make it a ‘must happen’ every year.

Do this and the year ahead won’t be one of firefighting and going backwards. It will be one of being stronger and more successful.