5 ways to get your goals back on track

August is a transition month. The summer rush starts to slow, kids head back to school, and your team may finally have a little breathing room.

This is the perfect time to reset your business before the fall season hits, especially if things got a little messy during the peak busy season. Here are five ways to get your operations, team and goals back on track:

1. Review your key performance indicators (KPIs). Start with the numbers. Look at sales, callbacks, cancellations and technician performance for the past 90 days. Where did you win? Where did you lose time or money? Use these insights to shape your priorities for the fall.

2. Clean up broken processes. Summer can expose weak spots such as missed follow-ups, messy routing and inconsistent communication. Now is the time to tighten up what slipped. Make sure your standard operating procedures (SOPs) match what’s actually happening in the field and the office.

3. Revisit training and onboarding. If you hired during the summer, chances are those new employees got more of a “crash course” than structured training. Use August to reinforce key expectations, review service protocols and reintroduce your culture and values.

4. Reconnect with your team. After a hectic season, your team may feel disconnected or drained. Schedule one-on-one check-ins or a team lunch. Ask for feedback. Rebuild trust and engagement by showing you care about people as well as performance.

5. Plan for fall and beyond. Fall brings new service demands — especially rodents. Start prepping marketing, staffing and scheduling now.

August is your window to regroup, refocus and get intentional before the next wave hits. The companies that take time now to reset, not just rest, are the ones that finish the year with momentum.

Spencer Bachman is a second-generation pest management professional, and owner of the Pest Control Business Coach consulting firm based in Canton, Ga. You can reach her at Sheri@PestControlBusinessCoach.com.