The start of a new year is when many of us make plans to eat better, move more, or finally follow through on personal goals. But it’s also one of the best times to adopt the same mindset for your business. The new year is a powerful opportunity to reset, refocus, and recommit to doing the work that matters most.
If you’re running on EOS, or even if you’re just exploring EOS Tools and testing the waters before working with an Implementer, now is the perfect time to strengthen how you set Rocks. While Rocks are revisited and reset every quarter, the habits you build early in the year will shape how effectively you prioritize and execute all year long.
Rocks are the big priorities across departments that are designed to help your business gain traction over a 90-day period. But if you want your Rocks to drive real results in 2026, it’s time to take a more deliberate approach to how they’re set.
Here are five tips to help your team set sharper, more strategic Rocks as you head into the new year.
1. Let Your Vision Set the Direction
The most effective Rocks aren’t pulled from thin air. They’re inspired by your Vision/Traction Organizer. When you ground your Rocks in your long-term objectives, every 90-day sprint becomes a building block toward your 1-Year Plan, your 3-Year Picture, and your 10-Year Target.
Before you brainstorm a single Rock, take time to revisit the big picture. Has anything changed in your Core Focus? What long-term issues have bubbled up? Are you still aligned on where you’re going and how you’ll get there? What are the most essential projects or efforts that need to get done across departments?
This isn’t just a formality of EOS. It’s a helpful filter. In a sea of possibilities, your V/TO helps you find the few priorities that actually matter.
Related Reading: How a 90-Day World Drives Sustained Growth
2. Start Every Rock “Off Track”
This might sound counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to set your team up for success is to set every Rock as “off track” when you first begin work on it. Why?
Because until there’s a clear, actionable plan in place, that Rock is just a hopeful idea.
Too many teams assume a Rock is on track just because it was written down. But Rocks don’t get done by osmosis. They get done when someone takes ownership and builds a plan with solid milestones, deadlines, and accountability.
Starting Rocks off track signals to the team: “We’re not there yet.” And that opens the door for meaningful planning and problem-solving before the weeks fly by and every Level 10 Meeting people reply “On track,” when really, no one has made any progress on it behind the scenes.
3. Take a Clarity Break to Map the Plan
Once your Rocks are set, your next move isn’t to get to work. It’s to pause and plan. This is where a clarity break becomes your best friend. Step away from the day-to-day. Look at each Rock and ask:
- What exactly needs to happen to complete this in 90 days?
- What are the key milestones or phases of work?
- Who else needs to be involved to get the ball rolling?
- How much estimated time will each step take?
- When will each step need to be completed?
This kind of thinking prevents drift, transforming vague intentions into a clear, time-bound strategy.
4. Block Time Before the Quarter Begins
Your calendar is your jar to fill as the months go by, but your Rocks go in first.
Once you’ve identified the steps and estimated the time needed, slot those blocks directly into your calendar. Don’t leave it to chance. Don’t assume the time will magically appear. It won’t.
Set yourself up to win by making space before your quarter fills up with pebbles, sand, and distractions. That includes:
- Blocking project time for each Rock
- Holding space for collaboration with others
- Reserving checkpoints to monitor progress
- Protecting your time and your priorities
Related Reading: What Does Done Look Like? How to Set SMART Rocks That Get Done
5. Focus on Fewer, Better Rocks
As you head into a new year, the temptation is to do it all. Every Rock idea is so exciting and energizing and paints a picture of what your business could be as you gain that traction. But more isn’t better; it’s just more.
Rocks are meant to stretch you in a positive way, not sink you. So instead of listing every good idea, zero in on the ones that truly move the company forward. Then make sure each Rock is SMART: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely.
Use the Keep, Kill, and Combine method to refine your list. Keep only the top three to seven company-level priorities. Kill anything that’s really a to-do or better suited for the Issues List. Combine any ideas that are really part of the same larger initiative.
When everyone is clear on what “done” looks like and has the time to actually do it, your Rocks won’t just feel important. They’ll really get done.
Reset Your Rock Rhythm
The start of a new year is your chance to reset the rhythm of your business. That begins by setting Rocks with intention, not haste.
So before your next quarterly session, take a moment to pause, zoom out, get clear. Maybe even set aside time personally to reflect on what made your Rocks from the previous year work out well or fall flat. And use these tips to help every Rock you set in 2026 move your company forward.
Explore the EOS Academy
Consistently setting strong Rocks requires more than a solid planning session. It takes capable leaders who know how to prioritize, plan, and follow through quarter after quarter. EOS Academy supports that kind of leadership growth.
Through short, focused lessons, your team can develop the habits and skills needed to make Rock-setting more effective across the entire organization. From clearer ownership to stronger execution, EOS Academy provides resources that help leadership sharpen their focus and build accountability into the way they work.
Thousands of businesses use EOS Academy to improve how they lead through each 90-day cycle. You can start exploring it for free and see how it supports better Rocks all year long.
