The Humanizing Work Show

Quarterly planning often starts with good intentions and ends in frustration. Teams leave planning sessions with detailed plans and optimistic commitments, only to watch reality undo them weeks later. In this episode of The Humanizing Work Show, Peter Green and Richard Lawrence explore why most quarterly planning breaks down—and what actually makes it work in complex, multi-team environments. They introduce The Three Essentials of Quarterly Planning: Shared understanding across teams Meaningful quarterly goals and commitments A sustainable rhythm for learning and delivery Drawing on Cynefin, CAPED, Scrum, and research like the Progress Principle, this conversation offers practical guidance for leaders, product teams, and agile practitioners who want quarterly planning to feel grounded, realistic, and energizing—whether you’re using SAFe or not. If you’re responsible for quarterly planning and want fewer surprises, better coordination, and goals that actually guide decisions, this episode is for you. Episode page: https://www.humanizingwork.com/quarterly-planning-done-right/