Now that we're over halfway through the year, it's a good time to take a step back and look at the big picture.
It’s tempting to charge ahead, especially when you realise there’s less than six months left. But taking time to reflect and refocus can make all the difference to how the rest of your year plays out.
In this blog, we’re walking you through a practical, no-nonsense checklist to help you take stock of where you’re at, and make the right decisions going forward.
Review your financial health
Your finances should be your starting point, they offer the clearest picture of how your business is performing, and help you prepare for any opportunities or challenges on the horizon.
Look at how you’re performing against the forecasts you set at the start of the year. If you’re ahead, that’s great news – it might be time to reinvest or accelerate your plans. If you’re behind, understanding why will help you make course corrections now, rather than playing catch-up in Q4.
You’ll want to check your:
- Cash flow: Do you have the headroom needed for planned changes or investment?
- Budget vs actual spend: Are there areas where costs have crept up?
- Profit and loss trends: Are margins holding up, or are adjustments needed?
Revisit your goals
Your goals should make sense for the direction your business is heading in now, not just where it was back in January. Revisit your goals and ask whether they still reflect your strategy, values and capacity. Some might need a reset. Others may no longer serve your direction.
Remember: letting go of goals doesn’t mean you’ve failed. A strategic pivot is sometimes the best thing you can do to keep momentum.
This is also a great time to check in on any ESG commitments and build these goals into your broader planning. ESG goals work best when they’re connected to your strategy, not left as an afterthought.
Once you’ve updated your priorities, share them clearly. Visibility and alignment help your team understand where to focus and why it matters.
Refine your KPIs
If your goals have shifted, your KPIs need to follow suit.
KPIs are there to give you insight and direction – but only if they’re relevant, up to date and actually used. If your current KPIs aren’t helping you make better decisions, it’s time to refresh them.
We’ve talked before about setting effective KPIs that guide real progress, not just tick boxes. That includes choosing metrics that are specific, actionable, and linked to business outcomes.
Keep your KPIs visible and build regular check-ins around them. When used well, they create accountability and momentum across the whole team.
Review how your business actually runs
Mid-year isn’t just about high-level planning. It’s also a chance to look at how your business runs day-to-day, and what’s slowing it down.
Outdated processes, clunky software, and duplicated effort all eat away at your team’s time and energy. A short operational review can reveal opportunities to improve efficiency and free people up for higher-value work.
Start by asking: are our systems helping us, or holding us back?
At Blu Sky, we often support businesses through software transitions and set up, refining reporting processes, and improving financial workflows. These changes don’t just save time, they give business owners back headspace and control.
And don’t forget: operational improvements can support ESG goals too. Going paperless, reducing travel, or moving to more sustainable suppliers all make a difference.
Check in with your team
Strategy only works if your team is on board.
Use this point in the year to check how people are feeling. That could mean running a short survey, holding a strategy session or simply creating more opportunities for feedback.
The goal isn’t to micro-manage. It’s to understand what’s helping your team thrive and where they need more support. You might discover that people are lacking clarity, struggling with communication, or feeling disconnected from the bigger picture.
Where possible, act on the feedback. Real engagement comes from people feeling heard and supported. And if you’ve got the time and budget, a team day out or informal catch-up never hurts!
Strengthen key relationships
It’s not just internal alignment that matters – external relationships deserve attention too.
A mid-year check-in can help reset expectations, spot opportunities, and build trust. This might be as simple as sending a personalised update, asking for feedback or picking up the phone for a chat.
Strong relationships are built on strong communication, shared goals and long-term confidence. Taking the time to connect now can set the tone for the rest of the year.
Celebrate progress and reset focus
Before jumping into what’s next, take a moment to reflect on what you’ve achieved so far.
Recognising progress helps keep morale high and reinforces good work. A short roundup, a team meeting, or even a few well-timed shout-outs can go a long way.
Then, turn the focus to what’s next. Bring your team into the conversation, share your updated priorities, and give everyone a clear sense of what the second half of the year is all about. When your team is well-informed, they’ll be better prepared to act.
Ready for the rest of the year?
By revisiting your finances, refreshing your goals, refining your KPIs and reconnecting with your team, you’ll put yourself in a stronger position to lead through the second half of the year.
At Blu Sky, we help businesses turn strategic reflection into practical action. Whether you need help with forecasting, planning or decision-making, we’re here to support you.
