Headwater runs quarterly planning as a set of short sessions in the two weeks either side of the quarter’s start. The company plans first, then each team, then each person with their manager, so each new climb can support one that’s already agreed.
Each planning session closes the last quarter’s climbs before it sets new ones. Every climb is marked Done, Carried over, or Dropped, so nothing is left open when the new quarter starts.
A climb can only be marked Done once every milestone is ticked or removed. Until then, Done is locked and the climb shows how many milestones are still open.
- Company climbs
- 2Close climbs
- 3Long-term issues
- 4Set climbs
- 5Confirm
- Sign 8 cafés in HarrogateMO4 of 4 milestones
- Run a trade tasting in LeedsJB
- Build the trade price listRP
- Stock Halden in two farm shopsJB
A long-term issue is a problem the team has parked for quarterly planning. Each team session has a step for going through them.
Each issue is parked again, dropped, or made into a climb for the new quarter. Headwater shows how long each one has been open, in amber after three months and in red after six.
- Company climbs
- Close climbs
- 3Long-term issues
- 4Set climbs
- 5Confirm
- No trade rep covers ManchesterMO7 months
- Trade terms are still 60 daysMO5 months
- Cafés want to order on a SundayRP4 months
- Sample bags cost too much to postJB2 months
- Sign 12 new cafés in LeedsMO
- Build the trade price listCarried overRP
A proposed climb needs a title, an owner, a done when line, and milestones that each have a title and a date. An individual climb also needs a climb above it to support.
Headwater lists what’s missing under each proposed climb, and Confirm stays locked until the list is empty. Confirming locks the session’s climbs and saves a record of it.
- Company climbs
- Close climbs
- Long-term issues
- 4Set climbs
- 5Confirm
- Sign 12 new cafés in LeedsMO
- Build the trade price listRP
- Write the job advert9 Oct
- Interview a shortlist
- Offer accepted
A proposed climb can only support a climb that’s already confirmed. The company confirms its climbs first, then each team sets climbs that support the company’s, and then each person sets one to three climbs with their manager.
While a session that involves you is still open, My Flow shows it at the top, for example “Set Wholesale climbs”. It goes away once the session is confirmed.
- CompanyConfirmed 21 Sep
- WholesaleIn session
- JoeWaiting for Wholesale
- Company climbs
- Close climbs
- Long-term issues
- Set climbs
- 5Confirm
- Sign 12 new cafés in LeedsMO
- Build the trade price listRP
- Hire a trade rep for ManchesterMO
- Set Wholesale climbsQ3 planningMOJBRPEC
- Set your climbs with MayaQ3 planningJBMO
- Close climbs
- 2Set climbs
- 3Confirm
The Planning page shows the vision, the pillars and their initiatives, this quarter’s company and team climbs, and any gaps in the structure, such as a vacant seat or a team with no lead. Export it as a PDF to print or share.
The vision, pillars, initiatives, and structure are set once a year in the annual planning session. Only the leadership team and admins can change the vision and pillars. Point at a session to see which part of the page it fills.
By 2029, Halden is the coffee people ask for by name across the North.
- Open trade in Leeds and ManchesterApr to MarMO
- Launch a trade portalJul to MarRP
- Relaunch the subscriptionApr to DecTR
- Open café five in YorkJul to MarDW
- Start a barista academyOct to JunAR
- Commission the new roasterApr to DecPS
- Win 20 new wholesale accounts45%MO
- Reach 4,000 subscribers38%TR
- Get the York café ready to open64%DW
- Install and test the new roaster30%PS
- Hire a head of coffee60%SH
- Sign 12 new cafés in Leeds58%MO
- Build the trade price list35%RP
- Hire a trade rep for Manchester25%MO
- Launch the decaf subscription40%TR
- Fit out the York café70%DW
- Move green coffee storage to the new site50%PS
- Head of Coffee · Vacant seat under Sam
- ECEllie Chen · In no seat
- EventsNo team lead
Book a demo and we’ll show you how Headwater would run your week, from the vision down to Monday morning.