The start of fall is hands down my favorite time of year. What’s not to love? Football returns, comfort foods hit the table, the weather cools, and let’s be honest it has the best holidays. I could stop at football and call it a win.  But, probably the thing I love the most about the fall is the opportunity for reflection and planning.  It’s the moment where the rubber meets the road.  We’re one step closer to the end of the year, and that means facing down those goals we set back in January.

Fall marks a return to reality.  After the carefree rhythm of summer, fall reminds us there’s work to be done and you’re the one who has to do it.  For some managers, it’s a mad dash to hit targets. For others, it’s a season of performance reviews and laying the groundwork for next year.  Either way, you’ve got a choice: finish strong or limp into the new year.  The difference lies in how you approach these next few months.

Step 1: Know where you stand.

Maybe you’ve tracked goals all year and know exactly where you’re landing.  More likely, you’ve been juggling so much that you’re not totally sure. That’s ok.  It’s never too late to pause and assess.

That’s exactly why we built The ManagerEQ Vibe Check, a free tool that helps you figure out where you and your team actually stand, and what to prioritize to finish strong. I wish I’d had something like this when I was a new manager.  It would’ve saved me from chasing vague goals and instead given me a bar to aim for.

Remember: those big January goals may be outdated or unrealistic now. That doesn’t mean you can’t create a meaningful benchmark for the final stretch.  Momentum matters. One of my favorite tricks is starting next year’s goals in Q4 so by January, I’ve already got momentum rolling downhill instead of pushing a boulder uphill.

Step 2: Make a plan.  

Now comes my favorite part, putting pen to paper to commit to a plan.  Don’t miss this part: the plan is just a tool.  The plan itself isn’t magic; it’s the process of planning that creates clarity.  Once you know where you stand, you can act with intention.

For example, maybe you realize performance reviews are around the corner and you’re not ready to give meaningful feedback.  That becomes part of your fall plan. Or maybe you need to rebalance your team’s workload before burnout sets in. The act of planning brings focus and makes the final step possible.

Step 3: Do the next right thing.

General Patton once said, A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.  I agree.  Clarity comes through action, not overthinking.  For you that might mean immediately committing to a skill building opportunity to get better and prepare.  It could also mean scheduling that check-in, capturing notes for an upcoming performance review, or preparing for a reset conversation.  Whatever it is, don’t overcomplicate it. Just take the first step.

So what’s your next right thing?

Here’s an easy one: take The Manager Vibe Check today. It’ll give you the clarity you need to finish this year like a boss and start the next one with momentum.