Spring is officially here in the UK.
As the days get longer and the air a little lighter, there’s something about this time of year that stirs a natural desire to reset, refresh, take action and get moving. For business leaders in the UK, this season also coincides with two key milestones, the end of the first quarter and the close of the financial (tax) year. It's more than just nature waking up, for many it’s about your business that should be doing the same.
The end of the UK tax year may seem like it belongs purely in the finance department’s domain, but it’s actually a strategic moment for the whole leadership team. Yes, there’s compliance to handle, paperwork to submit and numbers to balance. It’s also a chance to examine whether the business is running efficiently, whether costs are controlled, whether you're making the most of available allowances and reliefs, and whether your financial decisions are genuinely fuelling (sustainable) growth. It’s not enough to leave this to your accountants department and hope for the best. This is the moment for leadership to step up, look at the bigger financial picture, and ensure money is being directed toward priorities and areas of attention that will deliver results over the next twelve months.
At the same time, quarter one is done and dusted. Targets and goals set in January have had three solid months to breathe. But how many businesses will actually pause to reflect right now?
Too often, leaders wait until the middle of the year to realise things are off track. That’s a costly mistake. Q1 results are more than just about numbers, as it can be an early warning system, a time to review and refocus. Are you where you said you'd be, for example and are there obstacles slowing progress? Perhaps there are warning signs in team morale, delivery or market shifts that need attention now rather than later? Avoiding this conversation just means any drift continues unchecked. You’ve still got three potentially strong quarters ahead, so don’t carry avoidable problems forward.
Spring itself, of course, has been teaching us about growth and renewal long before spreadsheets and board meetings existed. It’s a natural moment to ‘shed the deadwood’ and focus on what’s worth nurturing. Businesses are no different, and can often benefit from a review and refresh. Now’s the time to cut out or prune unnecessary activity that’s cluttering people’s diaries, clogging systems or soaking up budget without real return.
Equally, it’s worth taking a hard look at roles and responsibilities. Priorities have a habit of shifting subtly as months pass and leaders need to be intentional and check if people are still clear on what really matters? Do teams feel energised, focused and supported? Or are they stuck in routines, following processes ‘because that’s how we’ve always done it’?
Spring is a chance to challenge inertia, sweep away outdated thinking and re-energise people.
While you’re looking internally, don’t forget that clients, customers and competitors are resetting too. Their budgets may have refreshed and their needs might be evolving. Competition is certainly sharpening up, either cleverly improving business and potentially transforming their operating model. This isn’t the season to rest on last year’s achievements or assume what worked before will still hit the mark. Reconnecting with key clients and checking what’s shifted for them can be the difference between growth and stagnation. Staying close to your market, spotting emerging trends and fine tuning your offer is likely to keep you relevant and competitive.
On a deeper level, this is also a great time to reflect on leadership and culture. All too often, we see leaders get caught in reactive modes, fighting fires, chasing targets and trying to run at full tilt without pausing to question how or if they are really leading. I think Spring gives us permission to stop and reset and ask some key questions: Are we leading with clarity and purpose, are the team dynamics healthy, and are our values still guiding the way people behave, or have they become words on the wall no one refers to?
Having honest, useful, direct conversations now with your team - about what's working, what's not, and what’s being left unsaid- will set a far stronger tone (culture) for the rest of the year than hoping issues will resolve themselves.
Business seasons are as cyclical as nature’s. Ignore them, and you risk drift, inefficiency, or worse stagnation or elimination. Conversely, use them well, and you give your business fresh energy, focus, fun and direction. So, while you might be clearing out the garage, tidying the garden, or shaking off the winter blues please think about doing to do the same for your business. March 21st is not just another date in the calendar, I see it as a key moment to sharpen your thinking (thank you Stephen Covey), get intentional and lead your business confidently into the months ahead.
Let me help....
Most businesses don’t fail because of market forces, they stagnate because leadership ignores the subtle signs until it’s too late. I help leaders spot what’s slowing them down before it becomes a crisis. Whether it’s overweight processes, unclear priorities, flagging morale or simply ‘the way we’ve always done it’. I bring the honest and useful challenge that leaders often don’t get internally.
Think of me as your Spring Clean partner, helping you to cut through noise, sweeping out inertia, and re-energising leadership and teams. I’ll help you get intentional and align behaviours, sharpening focus, and making sure your decisions are driving real growth, not just keeping you busy.
Spring is nature’s invitation to reset. I’ll make sure your business answers it.
Comments