Mid-Year Check Ins, Facts About the ADA and Small Business and a Quiz
Mid-Year Check-ins and What You Need to Know About ADA
In this episode, we talk about mid-year check-ins – why they’re important and some things to consider when you do them. Then we discuss what small business owners need to know about the ADA – the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Thanks for listening!
Click below to listen to Episode 12.
If you like this episode, share it with your colleagues, friends and associates.
Plan a Mid-Year Check-In
Mid-year is the perfect time to see how you’re doing in terms of business performance.
WHY DO A CHECK-IN
If you do a check-in strategy session in the middle of the year - be it calendar or fiscal - you can gauge your progress while you still have time to make changes, fix problems or update strategies.
KEY REASONS
Things change – markets, customers, budgets, etc. – from when we first developed our annual plans, doing a check-in helps us adapt.
There might be new opportunities or challenges that need to be addressed.
We need a reminder or a re-focus. It’s like a booster shot to your goals.
Seeing how far we have come can be a strong motivator. (We talked in a previous episode about the importance of celebrating wins; a mid-year check-in can help identify them)
HOW TO DO A CHECK-IN
When conducting a mid-year check-in, look at the goal itself, the strategy/tactic you are implementing and the team assigned to it.
Use these three categories to rank how well things are going.
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.
THE GOOD
The goal is still relevant and attainable
Your strategies/tactics are going well
Time to celebrate your progress and keep moving toward your goals.
THE BAD
External or internal challenges are keeping you from reaching your goals
The strategies/tactics you thought would help are coming up short
Time to adapt, adjust or change. It could be a minor tweak or a major overhaul.
But be sure to figure out why something isn’t working.
“Say you’ve placed Facebook ads that aren’t getting clicks. It might not be the strategy (placing ads) that is the issue. It could be a lack of a call-to-action or a problem with targeting the right people.”
THE UGLY
Your original goal is no longer relevant or achievable.
Your strategies/tactics aren’t moving the needle at all or might be making things worse.
Time to stop.
Remove that particular goal or strategy from your plan, even if you have devoted time and energy to it.
“The sunk cost fallacy hypnotizes decision makers into believing in something that’s proven its unworthiness.”
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
What do you, as a small business owner, need to know about the ADA?
We interviewed Deputy Director of the Southwest ADA Center Marisa Demaya to learn more.
QUESTION: Tell us a little more about your organization.
ANSWER: The Southwest ADA Center helps individuals, businesses, and organizations understand and comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This includes training and resources on a wide range of ADA-related topics, from employer/workplace accommodations to ensuring accessibility in businesses, public spaces, and even digital platforms. We are part of a national network - there is a regional or local office accessible to people across the country.
Q: What are some of the ways you can help small business owners?
A: Whether you're an employer, a business owner offering services or goods, or someone with a disability, we're here to support practical solutions that help meet legal requirements and improve access for everyone. Our goal is to make ADA compliance easier and more manageable for business owners so they can ensure they reach all members of their service markets.
An important point to note is that we are not enforcement nor do we represent anyone in legal proceedings. This is entirely for information purposes.
Q: What are some of the ways people can access information?
A: We have a Toll-Free Technical Assistance Line - 800-949-4232 - that anyone can call for information about employment, public access, accommodations, parking, service animals and more related to the ADA.
We also offer FREE webinars (live & on-demand), workshops, and tailored sessions (on-site) on a variety of topics.
