Before you dive into strategic planning, have you clarified your strategic direction? In this episode of Vistage Live, Jon Lindsay, a leadership expert with over 30 years of business experience and Vistage Chair, shares the crucial first step that often gets overlooked: defining where you want to go and why and unpacks how leaders can bring clarity to their organisation's purpose and priorities, setting the foundation for meaningful strategic plans.

Now is the perfect time to do the preparation needed to kick off 2025 with strong foundations in place. Whether you're a CEO, entrepreneur, or business owner, this episode will inspire you to step back, refocus, and ensure your organisation is aligned on the big picture. Tune in to learn how to create a clear and compelling direction that sets you up for success in the year ahead.

3 top tips to prepare for 2025, Jon recommends that business leaders:

• • Keep things simple and focus on strategic direction rather than detailed planning right now. Use simple models and frameworks to facilitate open conversations with the leadership team.
  • Look outside the business to understand industry trends and changes in the external environment. Don't try to do too much between now and the end of the year, but use this time to reflect on what's coming down the track.
  • Prioritize clarity, usefulness, and focus in the strategic approach. The goal is to have a strategy that helps make decisions, not a lengthy document.