The CEO's Monthly & Quarterly Checklist
- Cynthia Nevels
- Mar 3
- 3 min read
What Top Performers Do Differently | March 3, 2025
As we begin a new quarter, I wanted to share the disciplined approach that separates high-performing CEOs from the rest. According to Harvard Business Review, CEOs who follow structured review processes are 1.7x more likely to lead companies that outperform their competitors.
Many small business owners are so preoccupied with the day-to-day operations of their business that they neglect to manage the business from a higher level and leverage the data the entity is creating to make informed decisions. The usual reasons given for neglecting the overall management of the business are time and money.
This checklist was created to assist small business owners who manage high-growth companies and may be operating without a clear plan. It outlines the CEO's key responsibilities at the start of each month, with a focus on enhancing business performance and increasing revenue.
The Monthly CEO Ritual (First-of-Month Tasks):
1️⃣ Financial Health Analysis
Review P&L and identify variances >10%
Analyze cash flow position and 90-day forecast
Monitor 3-5 key performance indicators
💡 Data Point: McKinsey research shows CEOs who spend 30-50% of their time on financial strategy deliver 2.2x shareholder returns compared to those who spend less than 20%.
2️⃣ Team Alignment & Performance
Conduct structured 1:1s with direct reports
Review department scorecards against targets
Address emerging leadership or team dynamics issues
"The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say 'no' to almost everything." — Warren Buffett
3️⃣ Customer & Market Intelligence
Review customer satisfaction metrics (NPS/CSAT)
Speak directly with 2-3 key customers
Scan competitive landscape developments
💡 Data Point: According to Bain & Company, companies that systematically track customer experience metrics are 3x more likely to exceed their financial goals.
4️⃣ Strategic Initiative Progress
Update initiative dashboard showing progress vs. milestones
Remove obstacles for priority projects
Make decisions on struggling initiatives (pivot or stop)
"Strategy is about making choices, trade-offs; it's about deliberately choosing to be different." — Michael Porter
5️⃣ Communications Planning
Finalize all-hands meeting agenda
Review external communications calendar
Plan stakeholder updates
The Quarterly CEO Deep Dive:
1️⃣ Comprehensive Quarterly Business Review
Analyze previous quarter results against annual targets
Lead full leadership team review of lessons learned
Document key strategic adjustments needed
💡 Data Point: PwC's CEO Survey found that companies conducting thorough quarterly reviews are 65% more likely to achieve their annual goals.
2️⃣ Strategic Realignment
Refresh strategic plan based on market changes
Reset/confirm quarterly OKRs with all departments
Reallocate resources based on performance data
"The essence of strategy is choosing what not to do." — Michael Porter
3️⃣ Board & Investor Relations
Prepare and deliver board presentation
Schedule individual calls with key investors
Address governance or compliance matters
4️⃣ Team Development & Culture
Review organizational structure and talent needs
Assess leadership team effectiveness
Plan culture-building initiatives
💡 Data Point: According to Deloitte, companies with strong cultures report 30% higher levels of innovation and 40% higher levels of retention.
5️⃣ Personal Leadership Development
Self-assessment of performance
Schedule learning opportunities
Plan work-life balance adjustments
"The most important investment you can make is in yourself." — Warren Buffett
The Execution Framework:
Preparation: Have reports submitted 2-3 days before month-end
Calendar blocking: Reserve 8-10 hours for monthly tasks, 15-20 for quarterly
Delegation: Empower your team to handle departmental details
Documentation: Maintain a decision log with rationale
Communication: Share outcomes with appropriate stakeholders
What monthly and quarterly practices have you found most valuable as a leader? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments below.
If you have never written a growth strategy or action plan and feel your operations are a bit chaotic, book a free 30-minute discovery call with us to discuss how we can adapt this framework to your organization's unique needs.
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