Welcome to Snack BOxD, a highly digestible digest from me, Nenuca Syquia, CEO at Better Organizations by Design (BOxD). Each month, I share quick, actionable ideas to help leaders and teams level up. If you’re new here, don’t forget to subscribe!

Have you ever taken a wrong turn while driving? Maybe you got distracted, misread a sign, or thought you knew exactly where you were going—only to find the road ahead wasn’t what you expected. If you’re lucky, your GPS quickly adjusts: “Recalculating…” It finds the best new path to get you back on track.

Much like a GPS recalibrates based on new information, leadership requires the same kind of flexibility. Even the best-laid plans can run into unexpected detours—shifting priorities, unforeseen challenges, or opportunities that demand a new approach.

As we wrap up Q1, this is the perfect moment to assess whether your organization is still on course or if it’s time to adjust. Did your team make the progress you anticipated? Have new roadblocks emerged? Are you still headed toward your goals, or is a route adjustment needed?

At the start of the year, you set a clear destination: your organization’s 2025 goals. But just like in driving, the road ahead isn’t always as predictable as it seems. Market shifts, shifting team capacity, or unforeseen challenges can alter the landscape, making it necessary to adjust your route.

Fortunately, we have built-in checkpoints throughout the year—four natural moments to take stock of what’s working, what’s not, and what needs to change. These quarterly benchmarks aren’t just passive milestones; they’re opportunities to make proactive course corrections before minor detours turn into major roadblocks.

But before you can reroute, you need to understand exactly where you are on the map right now. Here are a few signs that it’s time to adjust your approach:

• Missed Milestones – If key targets from Q1 weren’t met, it’s important to dig deeper into the root cause. Were the goals unrealistic from the start? Did competing priorities pull focus away? Or were there process inefficiencies slowing things down? Identifying the “why” behind missed milestones allows you to adjust expectations, reallocate resources, or provide additional support where needed.
• Shifting Priorities – Even the best plans don’t exist in a vacuum. Unexpected challenges, or new exciting opportunities may have changed what matters most. If your team is now focused on work that wasn’t originally on the roadmap, it’s worth asking: Are these shifts necessary and aligned with long-term goals? Or have they become distractions that are pulling focus from the highest-impact initiatives?
• Slow Progress – Sometimes, a team is doing all the right things but still struggling to gain momentum. If work is moving slower than expected, consider whether bottlenecks, inefficiencies, or misalignment across teams are playing a role. Are decision-making processes causing delays? Are resources spread too thin? Addressing these obstacles now can help prevent larger slowdowns down the road.

*Read more about Hitting the Wall here.

If any of these sound familiar, Q2 is the time to recalculate. The goal isn’t to scrap the plan—it’s to make the right adjustments to get back on track.

When your GPS recalculates, it doesn’t assume you’re lost—it simply finds the best way to your stated destination given your current position. The same applies to leadership. Being on a different route doesn’t necessarily mean you’re off course. Sometimes, the road changes because the destination has shifted. Other times, the original goal remains the same, but the path to get there needs to be adjusted. Either way, recalibration is about making intentional choices that keep you moving in the right direction.

Adjust the Route

Many times a detour doesn’t mean failure—it just means finding a smarter way forward. Maybe you need to reallocate resources, streamline a process, or shift a deadline to regain momentum. The key is to identify what’s slowing progress and make targeted course corrections. Small adjustments now can prevent bigger problems down the road, which will help to keep your team focused and moving with purpose.

Confirm Your Landmarks

Even if your overall destination remains the same, the key checkpoints along the way might need to shift. Are the metrics and milestones you originally set still the best indicators of progress?

Sometimes, teams get discouraged not because they’re off track, but because they’re measuring success in a way that no longer fits the current reality. Take this moment to validate whether your metrics are still meaningful, and if necessary, redefine what progress looks like. This ensures your team stays motivated and aligned with what truly matters.

*Read more about Meaningful Metrics here.

Reassess the Destination

If the route is clear and the landmarks are guiding you effectively, but progress still isn’t adding up the way you expected, it’s worth asking: Are we still heading toward the right destination?

Business environments evolve, new opportunities emerge, and what seemed like the best target in January may no longer be relevant. In some cases, your team may have sensed this shift before it was explicitly named—adapting their approach, adjusting priorities, or naturally redefining key milestones along the way.

Rather than assuming these changes are missteps, take a step back to evaluate whether they reflect a deeper strategic pivot. If the broader vision has shifted, embrace the change and realign your strategy accordingly.

Mid-year is the perfect time to pause, reflect, and make adjustments before small misalignments turn into major roadblocks. A strategy refresh offsite gives leaders and teams the space to step away from day-to-day demands, zoom out on the bigger picture, and ensure that everyone is moving in the right direction with clarity and purpose. It’s not just about fixing what’s not working—it’s also about recognizing what is working and making sure you’re doubling down on the right efforts.

At BOxD, we help teams use these moments intentionally—reassessing their strategy, aligning around priorities, and fine-tuning their approach for the months ahead. These sessions provide clarity, focus, and renewed momentum so leaders can confidently navigate the road ahead.

Detours are inevitable, but great leaders know that what matters most is how you adjust. By reassessing now, making targeted shifts, and keeping your team aligned, you’ll ensure that Q2—and the rest of the year—keeps you on the right path.

Here’s to navigating the road ahead—smarter, not harder.

Interested in recalibrating your strategy? Let’s chat about how a Mid-Year Strategy Refresh Offsite can help your team stay on course.