As September draws to a close, it’s a natural time to step back.

Q1 of FY27 is almost behind us, and before the demands of October take over, there’s value in creating some space to think.

What worked over the past three months? What didn’t? What have you learnt? And, importantly, what needs to change?

That’s the theme of this month’s SHIFFT Newsletter: Reset. Refocus. Build Momentum.

We start with reflection.

Taking even a few minutes to step away from the noise can help you turn experience into better decisions. Rather than simply moving from one quarter to the next, reflection gives you the opportunity to recognise progress, learn from what stalled and decide what deserves your attention next.

EFT tapping provides a different kind of reset. It’s a practice some people find useful for managing the emotional intensity around everyday pressures — from difficult conversations and presentations to the general stress of a demanding week.

But resetting is only useful if it leads to something.

One question worth asking as a leader is:

What am I tolerating?

Recurring problems, unnecessary meetings, missed commitments, poor communication and inefficient processes can gradually become accepted as normal. Recognising them creates an opportunity to raise the standard and decide what needs to change.

And that brings us to the next 90 days.

October to December is Q2 FY27 – and it can be a deceptively short quarter once customer deadlines, Christmas trading, staff leave and shutdown periods are taken into account. Waiting until October is well underway makes it much easier for immediate demands to take control.

Now is the time to review Q1, identify the few outcomes that really matter and build your Q2 90-day plan.

But remember: the plan itself doesn’t create momentum. Consistent action does.

The real value comes from connecting your longer-term direction to clear quarterly outcomes, then keeping those priorities alive through monthly milestones, weekly commitments and daily action.

That’s also at the heart of Focused Execution – creating the focus, discipline and control required to turn priorities into progress.

So as you prepare for Q2, consider four questions:

● What have I learnt from Q1?

● What am I tolerating that needs to change?

● What are the few outcomes that really matter in Q2?

● What rhythm will keep those priorities moving every week?

Reflection helps you learn.

Focus helps you choose.

Execution builds momentum.

The plan sets the direction. The cadence builds the momentum.

Cheers,

Russ