You don’t need another kickoff. You need a plan.
Why most SKOs flow, and what to do instead.
The decks are being built. The vision slides are getting polished. And most companies are about to spend a lot of time (and budget) on a kickoff that won’t actually change how their teams operate.
Why?
Because the planning window is closing. And the real work hasn’t started yet.
Most kickoffs don’t lack content - they lack clarity
You’ve seen this movie before:
Leadership presents the annual startegy
Marketing introduces new messaging
Enablement runs a couple of sessions
Everyone nods along
A few people post on LinkedIn
And then… business as usual.
It’s not a content problem: it’s a follow-through problem.
The team leaves inspired, but without a clear answer to: “What exactly are we doing differently on Monday?”.
That’s where most kickoffs fall flat.
Kickoff is a GTM reset moment - but only if you plan for it.
A well-run SKO or CKO can reset how your entire GTM org operates.
It’s your moment to:
✔️ Launch new motions
✔️ Introduce refined processes
✔️ Align go-to-market plays across Sales, CS, and Partners
✔️ Reignite momentum with real focus
But that doesn’t happen in January. By then, reps are back in the field. Leaders are back in meetings. the window closes fast, unless you plan now.
3 things your kickoff needs to actually move the needle
Here’s what separates a “good event” from an execution catalyst:
#1 A shortlist of shared priorities
What are the 2-3 things the entire GTM org is focused on?
Don’t list 10 goals. Don’t build 8 decks. Choose what matters and make it stick.
#2 Real-world process and expectation setting
Not just a vision. What’s changing in how we sell, onboard, qualify, support?
The more real it gets, the more likely it sticks.
#3 A plan for what happens after
Reinforcement isn’t a follow-up email… It’s the managers who coach it, the templates that drive it, the check-ins that make sure it lands.
No time to plan properly? That’s where I come in.
I don’t run SKOs for the hype.
At Scaling Edge, I help GTM leaders turn kickoffs into execution accelerators - with clear priorities, real content, and post-event reinforcement.
If your team is focused on closing Q4 (and they should be), but you still want January to count - I’ll help yo get it done.
Planning your 2026 kickoff? Now’s the time.
Let’s turn it into something that actually changes how your team executes?
— Ambre
