The 90‑Day Rule — Short‑Term Goals that Power Long‑Term Vision

Why Annual Plans Fail

Annual retreats are exciting. Leaders dream big, set revenue goals, and brainstorm growth strategies. But by March, the binder is on a shelf, the excitement is gone, and the team is back to firefighting.

Why? Because a year is too long. Without shorter execution cycles, urgency fades and priorities blur.

Why 90 Days Is the Sweet Spot

Ninety days is long enough to make real progress, but short enough to keep focus. It’s also psychologically easier for teams to commit to three months than twelve. That’s why the most effective firms run their business in quarterly cycles.

How to Apply the 90-Day Rule

1. Pick 3–5 Firmwide Goals.
These are the priorities that matter most this quarter. Examples:

• Launch a new billing cadence to reduce outstanding A/R by 20%

• Implement an intake SOP to increase conversion rates

• Hire and onboard a senior associate

2. Assign Owners (Not Committees).
Each goal has one accountable owner. Collaboration is fine — but one person owns the finish line.

3. Cascade to Teams.
Each department or practice area sets their own 2–3 goals that align to the firmwide priorities. This ensures everyone rows in the same direction.

4. Run Weekly Leadership Meetings.
Meetings follow a set rhythm: scorecard review → goal status → issues → decisions. This cadence keeps priorities front and center.

5. Mid-Quarter Check.
If a goal is off track, adjust — don’t wait until the end of the quarter to admit it’s failing.

6. Celebrate and Reset.
At the end of the quarter, review what worked, what didn’t, and set new rocks. Wins are acknowledged, lessons are carried forward.

Why It Works

• Focus beats frenzy. Instead of 50 competing priorities, the firm zeroes in on a few critical ones.

• Progress is visible. Rocks are either on track or off track — no gray area.

• Momentum builds. Teams learn the discipline of finishing what they start.

• The vision stays alive. Every 90 days, you revisit the bigger picture and connect it to today’s execution.

The COO’s Role in the 90-Day Rule

Most firms try quarterly planning once — then slide back into chaos because no one enforces it. A COO ensures:

• Priorities are realistic and measurable

• Meetings stay on track (no tangents, no wasted time)

• Owners are held accountable

• The cycle repeats, quarter after quarter

The result? The firm doesn’t just set vision once a year — it lives the vision every 90 days.

If your law firm’s goals keep stalling between planning sessions, it’s not a lack of ideas — it’s a lack of rhythm. I help firms install the 90-day rule so vision turns into traction, one quarter at a time.

Learn more about the “90 day COO” and what all they can do for your firm with our previous blog here!