May tends to slip through the cracks. It’s not the bold, energetic start of the year, nor is it the pressure-fuelled sprint to year-end. It quietly sits between spring chaos and summer slowdown — which is exactly why it’s such a powerful window for strategic action.
While most business owners are either coasting or firefighting by now, the smart ones? They pause. They check in. They adjust course before the second half of the year gets away from them. 🧭
Why May Matters More Than You Think
By May, you’ve got enough data from Q1 to see what’s working (and what’s not). Team dynamics are clear. Goals have either gained momentum or gone quiet. There’s room to reflect — and still plenty of time to make a shift — without the pressure cooker of July or September.
May gives you:
✔ Breathing space to reflect without distraction
✔ A chance to reset priorities before summer holidays kick in
✔ An opportunity to make changes that stick before Q3 starts piling on the pressure
The Cost of Coasting Through May
Let’s be honest — it’s tempting to coast. Especially if the business isn’t technically on fire 🔥. But coasting now often leads to scrambling later.
I see it every year:
- Businesses stuck in reactive mode by July
- CEOs realising they’re still too involved in day-to-day
- Teams unclear on direction, resulting in slow progress and missed opportunities
What feels like “fine for now” becomes “not enough” very quickly.
3 Strategic Actions You Can Take This Month
You don’t need a full overhaul. But you do need to pause and recalibrate. Here’s what I recommend:
- Run a light operational health check
Take stock of where things feel clunky or unclear. Are your team roles still aligned? Are repeat tasks happening consistently? Are you getting pulled into things you shouldn’t be? - Realign your next 90 days
Use what you’ve learned in Q1 to refine your priorities. What projects actually deserve attention? What can wait — or be dropped? - Review your leadership load
Ask yourself: Where am I still too involved?
Then ask: Who or what could take this off my plate?
Why External Feedback Changes Everything
When you’re deep in the day-to-day of running a business, it’s hard to see the gaps — even when they’re holding you back. That’s not a failure; it’s human nature. We become too close to the work, the team, and the habits we’ve built.
This is where outside insight makes all the difference ✨
An experienced, objective review doesn’t just surface issues — it reveals opportunities. It helps you spot inefficiencies you’ve normalised, areas where your team is unclear, or where you’re still the bottleneck without realising it.
External feedback offers:
🔍 Clarity on what’s working and what isn’t
🎯 Perspective free from internal bias or assumptions
🛠 Practical recommendations — not theory
💡 Confidence that you’re working on the right things — not just the loudest
That’s exactly what I offer through my Business Operations Reviews: a clear-eyed, analytical look at how your business is functioning beneath the surface — with a plan to make it smoother, more scalable, and less reliant on you.
Final Word: Don’t Sleep on May
It’s not about doing more. It’s about choosing the right things to focus on — before busy season creeps back in. A few smart tweaks now can make the second half of your year smoother, calmer, and far more productive. You’ve got the space — use it well. ✅
TL;DR
May is a golden opportunity for strategic tweaks — not just filler. It’s the calm before the summer chaos and the perfect time to check in, realign, and set your business up for a smoother second half. Don’t underestimate what an objective outside eye can do to help you spot what you’ve stopped seeing.