Every organization has one.
A quiet, unspoken space where ideas go after someone says, let’s circle back.
Welcome to the circle back cemetery.
As a strategy and planning leader, Q2 is not just about moving forward. It is about understanding what did not make it out of Q1 and why.
Because buried strategies still teach valuable lessons.
Why Strategies Die
Not every strategy fails because it was a bad idea.
Some fail because priorities shifted. Others because resources were limited. And some because they were never clearly defined to begin with.
Understanding the reason matters.
A good idea at the wrong time is not a failure. It is a timing issue.
A vague idea with no clear execution plan is a different story.
The Importance of Post Mortems
Post mortems are not just for projects.
They are equally valuable for strategies.
What assumptions were made. Which ones held true. Which ones did not.
This analysis provides insight that can inform future planning.
Without it, organizations risk repeating the same mistakes.
Letting Go with Intention
There is a tendency to keep strategies alive longer than they should be.
No one wants to admit that something is no longer viable.
But holding on to outdated strategies consumes attention and resources.
Letting go is not failure. It is focus.
It allows you to redirect energy toward initiatives with greater potential.
Building Better for Q2
Q2 planning should incorporate what you have learned.
Clearer priorities. More realistic timelines. Better alignment with available resources.
Strategy is not just about where you want to go.
It is about what you are willing to prioritize.
Final Thought
The circle back cemetery is not something to avoid.
It is something to learn from.
Because every strategy that did not move forward has something to teach you about the ones that will.
