All of our plans for 2020 flew out the window due to the challenges we’ve faced with Covid. Now that we are approaching 2021, how should we plan? 2021 seems just as questionable as 2020 has turned out to be, so why bother? Strategic planning is still just as important now as it always has been. We tend to be afraid of what might go wrong and because of that, we just don’t start. 

 

Today’s guest on the VHMA Podcast is Jake Waas, an owner and practice manager in California. He is definitely the “Culture Guy,” because his team is a crucial part of his practice’s strategic planning. Although this year has turned out to be vastly different than they had planned for, listen on to hear how Jake managed to make the most of 2020 and his tips on moving forward into 2021.

 

Show Notes:

[1:47] - Jake considers himself a “culture guy” because he likes to get the feedback of the team and have them as a part of the process.

[2:07] - Ideally, strategic planning would take place on site to discuss in person a lot of goal setting for the next year, but Covid has made things challenging.

[2:51] - Generally, people think about strategic planning as a numbers game that is only concerned with money. But hiring, staffing, and equipment are also a part of this process.

[3:48] - Jake says that they are always focused on improving their client service, quality in medicine, and making it a great place to work. They start planning on how they can raise the bar in these areas.

[5:59] - Debbie notes that the numbers are the easy goals to set, but changes in staffing and unexpected repairs to equipment impact how these goals are met and must be planned for.

[7:19] - Jake says that they had lofty goals at the start of 2020, but they had to change due to Covid and applauds his team’s resiliency.

[8:07] - This year was a time to set some of the lofty goals aside and focus on the soft skills within his team, such as patience, compassion, and building a teamwork mentality.

[9:40] - Be stubborn on your vision but be flexible on how you get there. That has been a great reminder for Jake and his team because they kept their priorities but had to adapt their plan this year.

[11:16] - We are still a service industry and 2021 is a questionable year to plan for.

[12:24] - Jake encourages his team to share their ideas and gets excited when their vision is bigger than his.

[12:56] - The main thing to listen to when planning is what your market is asking for.

[14:20] - Planning is far more than sitting down with the numbers.

[15:46] - To hit financial goals, increasing prices always feels like the easiest way to do that, but it isn’t always the best option.

[17:21] - Jake not only likes to look at the number of transactions, but the average amount of a transaction. By looking at both, he can make goals for doing more with what appointments they already have.

[18:38] - Where does training fit in with your strategic planning?

[20:15] - Jake breaks down what strategic planning looks like by listing a lot of the things that should be looked at and addressed.

[21:50] - Jake and Debbie both recommend the book Traction which helps you break down big goals into smaller, more manageable chunks.

[22:45] - At the end of the day, when we are in the midst of this challenging year, follow your gut. If you feel something needs to change, move in that direction. Take one thing at a time.

 

Thank you for listening. Remember you are not in this alone. Visit our website for more resources.

 

Links and Resources:

 

• VHMA Web Page

 

• VHMA Coronavirus Resources
• VHMA Facebook
• VHMA Twitter
• VHMA on Linkedin
• Covina Animal Hospital
• Jacob Waas on LinkedIn
• Jake Waas VHMA Member Directory Profile

 

• Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business by Gino Wickman