Year-End Operating Reviews That Aren't Reviews
3 hours, 12 leaders, 87 slides. By slide 40 the room was debating next year's plan. The year itself was never reviewed.
Angle
Planning
5 posts
When the CEO Should Stop Hiring
23 open roles, revenue flat two quarters. The plan was built at 60% growth and nobody paused it when growth fell to 12. Here's the trigger that would have.
The bonus pool sized for the optimistic case
The plan promised $1.2M in bonuses if the company hit target. It hit 80% of plan. Nobody had budgeted for the 80% case.
The Tax Line Your Model Left at Zero
The books closed and the company owed $212,000 in taxes nobody had modeled. Franchise and sales tax come due whether or not you're profitable.
The headcount plan priced at last year's salaries
The plan called for fifteen hires. The comp math came off last summer's bands. By the time offers went out, the market had moved and nobody had told the board.