Thirty minutes at the end of each week can save you hours of the wrong work next week. A weekly review is how business owners stay in charge of the business instead of only reacting to it.
Why it works
During the week you react: emails, calls, problems. A weekly review is the one time you step back and decide. It catches things that slipped, shows you patterns and makes Monday morning clear.
The template
1. Clear (10 min)
- Empty your inbox, notes and desk into one list.
- Check your calendar for last week: anything you promised?
- Check open actions from meetings and emails.
2. Look back (10 min)
- What went well this week?
- What did not, and why?
- My numbers: sales ______, leads ______, cash in the bank ______, unpaid invoices ______.
3. Look ahead (10 min)
- What are my three priorities for next week?
- What is in the calendar that needs preparing?
- What will I delegate or drop?
Keep it small
- Three priorities, not ten.
- A few numbers you check every week, the same ones.
- Same time, same place, same template.
Tracking the same few numbers every week is what makes trends visible. Choose numbers that matter to your business: sales, new leads, cash, overdue invoices, hours worked.
Questions worth asking now and then
- What did I do this week that someone else could have done?
- What am I avoiding?
- Which customer or project took the most energy, and was it worth it?
- What did I learn that I should write down?
The first question is the start of delegating well. The last one builds your business notes over time.
Make it a habit
Put it in your calendar as a meeting with yourself. Friday afternoon works for many, because it closes the week. Monday morning works for others, because it opens the next one. Pick one and protect it.
If you miss a week, do a short one rather than skipping. The value comes from doing it every week.
For teams
The same idea works for a team, in a weekly team meeting. Your personal review comes first, so you arrive knowing your priorities.
For the bigger picture of where your hours go, see time management for business owners.