Leaders don’t need more noise; they need a steady way to turn intention into consistent action. A six-week leadership agenda is long enough to matter and short enough to commit to. It helps you focus, say no without guilt, and see visible progress.
What This Is
- A lightweight framework to align your priorities with your values and mission
- A repeatable cadence you can reuse each quarter
- A way to decide faster, reduce drift, and build momentum without burning out
Why Six Weeks Works
- It creates urgency without panic. The window is short enough to stay focused and long enough to make real moves.
- It’s forgiving. If a week goes sideways, you still have time to adapt.
- It builds a habit. Every six weeks you reflect, reset, and improve.
Step-By-Step Framework
1. Choose 1–3 outcomes that matter
- Ask: If these were done in six weeks, would our mission move forward?
- Make them observable: Done/Not done beats vague progress.
- Align with values: Make sure the outcomes reflect who you are, not just what’s urgent.
- Examples:
- Hire and onboard the right operations coordinator
- Ship v1 of the customer onboarding guide and test with five clients
- Run three board prep sessions and clarify the next 90-day mandate
2. Translate outcomes into weekly actions
- For each outcome, list 1–3 weekly actions that actually move the ball.
- Assign an owner and a “definition of done” for each action.
- Schedule actions on the calendar, not just on a list.
- Examples:
- Outcome: Hire operations coordinator
- Week 1: Finalize role scorecard and posting
- Week 2: Source candidates and schedule screens
- Week 3: Run interviews with structured rubric
- Outcome: Hire operations coordinator
3. Set a simple weekly review
- 20–30 minutes at the same time each week
- Three questions:
- What moved?
- What’s stuck?
- What matters next?
- Adjust your actions, don’t change your outcomes unless there’s a clear strategic reason.
4. Protect your focus
- Create a “Not now” list for good ideas that don’t fit the six-week window.
- Pre-decide your best “no” phrases:
- “Happy to explore after our current six-week agenda wraps on [date].”
- “That’s a good idea; it belongs on our Not Now list.”
- Time-block the top actions early in the week.
5. Debrief and reset
- What did we complete? Celebrate it.
- What carries forward? Why?
- What gets cut? What did we learn?
- Pick the next 1–3 outcomes for the next six-week cycle.
Common Pitfalls To Avoid
- Too many outcomes: Choose three max.
- Confusing tasks with outcomes: Outcomes are the results; tasks are how you get there.
- No owner: If two people own it, no one owns it.
- Skipping the review: The weekly review is the engine of momentum.
Try This This Week
- Name one outcome you want done in six weeks.
- List three actions for next week.
- Put a 25-minute weekly review on your calendar for the next six weeks.
Next Step
If you want outside stability to craft your first six-week agenda and stick with it, book a discovery call.
