Using Ninety to Support State of the Company Meetings

State of the Company Meetings help team members remain aligned and inspired as they work toward their organization’s vision. During the meeting, leaders share how the company did last quarter, reshare Focus Filters, and explore 3-year, 1-year, and new 90-day goals. State of the Company Meetings are integral to building a positive organizational culture in which every team member has bought into the vision.

What Is a State of the Company Meeting?

A State of the Company Meeting is a quarterly gathering designed to align the entire organization on high-level business goals, progress, and priorities for the upcoming period. These meetings create transparency, foster engagement, and reinforce a shared commitment to company goals. They provide a unique opportunity to share key metrics, discuss challenges, and cascade vision and values throughout departments and teams. State of the Company Meetings take two forms: quarterly and annual.  

Annual State of the Company Meetings

An annual State of the Company Meeting is held after every team has conducted their Annual Planning Meetings. Once individual teams have gained alignment, everyone comes together to review the previous year, reflect on the company vision, resolve long-term issues, and more.

Ninety’s Recommended Agenda for Annual State of the Company Meetings (90 minutes)

A 90-minute agenda for an annual State of the Company Meeting allows for both a high-level overview and deeper discussions. A central focus of the meeting is to review the 1-year and 3-year goals and outline a road map to achieve them. Here’s a suggested agenda that covers all key points efficiently. This agenda automatically runs in Ninety when you start your State of the Company Meeting:

1. Opening and Acknowledgments (5 minutes)
   Begin with a warm welcome, keep it light and fun, and have a facilitator ready with an icebreaker to set a positive tone.
2. Review of the Prior Year (10 minutes)
   Recap key wins, challenges, and lessons learned from the past year. Highlight metrics that reflect the company’s financial health, customer satisfaction, and operational efficiency, creating a shared understanding of where the company stands.
3. Company Vision Refresh (15 minutes)
   Revisit the company’s vision to remind the team of the “why” behind their work. Emphasize how these principles guide daily actions, align with long-term strategies, and set a foundation for the organization’s goals.
4. Core Values Review and Shout-Outs (10 minutes)
   Share a brief speech on Core Values, then open the floor for team members to give shout-outs to colleagues who embody these values. Encourage them to share why they’re recognizing specific team members, reinforcing cultural values throughout the company.
5. 1-Year and 3-Year Goals (25 minutes)
   Present the 1-year goals, revised 3-year goals, and company Rocks established during the Senior Leadership Team Annual Planning Meeting. This part of the meeting serves as the road map for the upcoming year, ensuring everyone understands the company’s direction and priorities.
6. Open Q&A Session (20 minutes)
   Pause for questions after each section of the meeting, but also dedicate specific time for live Q&A so team members can voice questions or feedback. Consider distributing slides beforehand and inviting pre-submitted questions to focus on the most relevant topics.
7. Closing Remarks and Call to Action (5 minutes)
   End on a motivating note, summarizing key takeaways. 

Quarterly State of the Company Meetings

A quarterly State of the Company Meeting provides the opportunity to look back on the previous quarter, review any C-Suite or organizational updates, revisit your vision and goals, and explore priorities for the following quarter.

Ninety’s Recommended Agenda for a Quarterly State of the Company Meeting (90 minutes)

A quarterly State of the Company Meeting uses a similar format, with a few key differences. Just as with the annual version, this quarterly agenda automatically runs in Ninety when you start your State of the Company Meeting:

1. Opening and Acknowledgments (5 minutes)
   As in all company meetings, begin with a warm welcome and keep the attitude light and fun. Consider a seasonal icebreaker to set a positive tone, like “what is your favorite fall tradition?”
2. Review of the Prior Quarter (10 minutes)
   Explore the key wins, challenges, and lessons learned from the past quarter. Highlight key metrics and tie them back to the annual goals so the team can forecast performance and understand what still needs to be accomplished.
3. Company Vision Review (15 minutes)
   To remind the team of the “why” behind their work, restate the company vision. Emphasize how these principles influence decisions throughout the quarter, align with long-term strategies, and set a foundation for the organization’s goals.
4. Core Values Review and Shout-Outs (10 minutes)
   Open the floor to your team members to give Core Values shout-outs for those who have gone above and beyond in the previous quarter. This part of the meeting helps to reinforce cultural values throughout the company.
5. Next Quarter Goals (25 minutes)
   Present the upcoming goals for the next quarter, providing a more detailed road map of company priorities and Rocks.
6. Open Q&A Session (20 minutes)
   Dedicate time for a live Q&A session so team members can voice questions or feedback. To get more engagement, consider distributing the slides beforehand and inviting pre-submitted questions keeps things focused.
7. Closing Remarks and Call to Action (5 minutes)
   End on a motivating note that summarizes key takeaways and the importance of Core Values. 

When Should You Hold a State of the Company Meeting?

Typically, State of the Company Meetings are scheduled after the Senior Leadership Team holds either its Quarterly or Annual Planning Meeting, where senior leaders have reviewed the most recent (quarterly and/or annual) performance and, if it’s after the annual, set clear objectives not just for the next quarter but also new 1-year and 3-year goals. To effectively cascade these objectives through the organization, companies typically follow a sequence of these key meetings each quarter:

• Senior Leadership Team Annual or Quarterly Planning Meetings 
• Departmental Annual or Quarterly Planning Meetings
• State of the Company Meetings
• Quarterly Feedback Discussions

Best Practices for Employee Engagement in State of the Company Meetings

State of the Company Meetings need to be engaging to maximize their impact. Your Senior Leadership Team should incorporate recognition and fun elements to create an event that team members look forward to. At Ninety, we feature 5–10 minutes of Core Values shout-outs in which anyone can celebrate a teammate aloud or in the Zoom comments. This interactive opening segment creates energy on the call and in the chat. Additionally, creating an open and comfortable environment encourages questions to the founder and/or CEO or the other members of the Senior Leadership Team, fostering a culture of transparency and trust.

Empowering the Entire Organization Through Transparent Communication

By using Ninety to run your State of the Company Meeting with a clear agenda and purpose, you empower the entire organization to move forward with focus and confidence. This transparency strengthens trust and ensures everyone is equipped to contribute to the company’s goals, reinforcing alignment through ongoing Quarterly Discussions and departmental planning.

How Ninety Supports State of the Company Meetings

Ninety’s pre-built agenda helps you seamlessly run your State of the Company Meetings and focus on what matters. While most employees may have read through the company vision in Ninety and seen the updates, the State of the Company Meeting serves as a conduit for the founder and/or CEO to engage the organization, tying all these pieces together. It also allows individual teams to see how their goals fit into the bigger picture. 

It's just one more way Ninety software supports communication throughout the organization, helping the entire business run as one cohesive unit. Use this quarterly opportunity to recap past performance and share your vision for the future. Quarter by quarter, we march steadily toward turning our vision into reality.

Tips for Running Your State of the Company Meetings

• Schedule State of the Company Meetings in advance. Over the years, we’ve found it's best to maintain a rolling 12-month calendar that includes the dates for each upcoming meeting. With the dates on the calendar well ahead of time, we minimize the chance of scheduling conflicts.
• Be transparent. Some companies may be hesitant to share their earnings and financial goals. But here at Ninety, we sincerely believe it’s nearly impossible to build a high-stage culture, let alone a Stage 5 company, without openly discussing performance and goals.
• Make it memorable. Encourage participation from Senior Leadership Team members and craft an experience. Keep it fresh, fun, and memorable. Your goal is to make it an event that team members look forward to!
  

Key Takeaways

State of the Company Meetings are critical for building a great company. Embedding State of the Company Meetings into every 90-day march keeps organizations focused, aligned, and thriving. Visit our Ultimate Guide to Annual Planning for more strategies to keep your team focused on what matters all year long!