September is often considered a time for new beginnings in the UK… with the back-to-school vibe engrained into many of the nation from a young age, it still carries a lot of weight for us business owners. Now summer is officially over, how do you make the most of the rest of the year and reach your quarter four business goals? 

As a team of virtual assistants (VA) and virtual business managers (VBM), we love organisation and goal setting… not just for ourselves, but for our clients too.

What’s the big deal about quarter four business goals?

Quarter four (often referred to as Q4 for short) comes with an added urgency to achieving your business goals for the year because it’s the final stretch. The calendar adds pressure and a sense of urgency to reach our goals within certain timeframes.

If you can make more achievements for your business in this last portion of the year, you’re setting yourself up for an even more successful 2024 (yes, I said it!). 

So, as a business owner looking to reach their goals, how can you prepare your business for the best results in Q4?

Setting goals for Q4

We’ve talked about business goals… but have you set them yet? 

If not, now is the time to get clear and specific about what you’re looking to achieve. 

But first, you want to review your Q1-Q3 goals to see if anything has changed.

Your priorities may have shifted, or you could have changed the way your business operates with certain tasks. 

Before you get too excited setting new ones, spend some time reviewing how your year has already been. 

That will help you to move forwards with more success and clarity.

Set quarter four SMART goals

Have you ever set vague, wishy-washy goals that you struggle to reach? 

If you’re like most people, of course you have… it’s almost impossible to stick to something that has no real structure, and you certainly won’t make the tasks involved a priority. 

So, to avoid that, your goals need to be SMART – 

  • Specific – don’t be vague about what you’re looking to achieve
  • Measurable – make sure there’s a way to measure success or progress
  • Achievable – we all like to dream big, but keeping it achievable avoids overwhelm 
  • Relevant – how does it tie into your overarching bigger picture plans?
  • Time-bound – put a deadline on each goal or milestone to stay accountable

Also consider how your business runs.

If you have seasonal revenue vs steady income, your goals are going to look differently. 

Your quarter four may involve less business development time than other quarters due to an increase in clients. 

Or you may go the other way and have more time to work on your own marketing.

Make sure you don’t try to lump all your goals into one chunky goal… use smaller, more achievable, and specific goals to work on. 

This way, you can tick things off your list and even if it’s the same overall amount of work, it feels easier manage. 

How can a virtual assistant help to reach your Q4 goals?

Now you know what goals (and sub-tasks) you are aiming for, have a look at the list and work out what you could get help with. 

As virtual assistants, our aim is to take the admin and repeatable tasks away from business owners so that you have more time to do the thing you’re great at, or the things that make you the most money or progress. 

Delegate repeatable tasks to your VA

Get more headspace by delegating to a VA and reach your Q4 goals easier. 

Anything ‘big picture’ that’s all about you taking the business to the next level is more achievable when these smaller time-heavy and low-impact tasks are removed from your day and given to a virtual assistant.

Do any of your quarter four business goals involve lots of admin-heavy tasks? 

Are you setting up any new systems or processes, or are you starting any new marketing activity that involves lots of prep work? 

These sorts of things are perfect to pass to a VA, so you take the pressure off and make reaching Q4 goals more effective. 

If you’re worried your business is too much of a ‘mess’ to get help from a VA, here’s how to prepare your business systems and processes to start delegating to a virtual assistant. This guide will help to clear your head and understand what a VA needs to support you. 

Are you feeling scared about outsourcing tasks? 

We have a control freak’s guide for outsourcing to a VA just for that – perfect for if you’re struggling to let go. 

Project management support from a VBM

Now there’s not much time left of the year, it’s a great point to consider if you need specialist support to get your Q4 business goals over the finish line. 

If you need help with planning, strategy, or project management, then a virtual business manager could be the best option for you. 

Instead of focusing on the admin tasks that drag you down, a VBM becomes your strategic partner. 

Is one of your SMART goals something you know is good for the business, but you don’t have the in-house expertise (or the time) to fulfil it? 

That’s where a virtual business manager can be an excellent support for you reaching your quarter four business goals. 

Whether you’re looking at developing a specific part of your business or carrying out a project, or you need support in your management team to hire new employees the right way, a VBM is highly skilled and qualified so they can hit the ground running. 

Hire a VA or VBM to reach your Q4 goals with ease

Good luck for the last stretch of 2023… and don’t forget to keep reviewing your business goals! 

If you’re looking to get help to reach your quarter four business goals because you can’t do it alone, Spero Solutions is here. Get flexible support on the things that will make the most difference to your business. Get in touch to find out more.