A State of the Company (SOC) meeting is a simple, effective way to ensure your Vision is shared by all. It’s where the Leadership Team presents one Vision, reinforces Traction, and demonstrates a healthy, cohesive team so everyone in the organization is aligned and moving in the same direction.
Simply put, the SOC is a company-wide update on how you’re executing on your Vision and where you’re headed next. It typically happens once per quarter, after the Leadership Team completes its Quarterly Session, and includes everyone in the organization.
The outcome is simple: your people should leave thinking, “The Leadership Team is clear, disciplined, and on the same page—and I know where I fit.”
The SOC Basics
Done right, a State of the Company meeting builds clarity, trust, and alignment.
It should be concise enough to hold your people’s attention and substantial enough to matter to them. Most EOS-run companies find that 20–40 minutes for an SOC is the sweet spot, especially when the meeting becomes a consistent, predictable event within your organization.
Whether in person, virtual, or hybrid, use a simple, clear presentation to walk through the same agenda every quarter.
The SOC Agenda
Follow the same structure every time:
- Where We’ve Been
- Start with results. Review your most recently completed Company Rocks (done or not done), your Scorecard Measurables (on track or off track), and your financial results. This is about transparency and accountability, showing your people how you performed. Consider adding a historical perspective, such as showing a past Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) to reinforce progress over time and remind everyone how far you’ve come.
- Where We Are
- Reinforce who you are. Deliver a Core Values Speech, either live or on video, often given by the Visionary or owner. You must repeat a version of this speech every quarter, as you can’t overcommunicate your Core Values. Here are a few examples of Core Values Speeches done well. Update your team on the status of any big projects underway, such as new machinery, software installations, or critical customer initiatives. Recognize people who are living the Core Values, hitting their numbers, and achieving their Rocks. This is where you strengthen your culture and reinforce what matters most.
- Where We’re Going
- Create clarity on the future. Review your V/TO, reinforcing your 10-Year Target, Marketing Strategy, 3-Year Picture, and 1-Year Plan. Confirm whether your 1-Year Plan goals are on track or off track. This is where your team sees where the business is going and how you plan to get there. Introduce the new Company Rocks for the next 90-Day World.
MAKE IT YOURS
Incorporating elements of your company culture into the SOC meeting can be a meaningful way to tailor it to your organization. Although it’s not necessary every quarter, some EOS-run companies choose to make the Annual SOC stand out from the other three with additional elements, such as:
- Music
- Great food
- A cool venue
- Multiple leadership team speakers or a special featured guest speaker
- Photos/videos from the past quarter/year
- What the Heck is EOS? books to hand out
- Core Values shout-outs or awards
- Matching t-shirts or other swag printed with Core Values, Core Focus, or 10-Year Target
- Founder’s story describing their “Why”
- Department recognition and awards
- Memorable opens and closes
- Feedback gathering device
Set Up Your Next SOC for Success
Your people are watching for one thing: Is the Leadership Team clear, aligned, and executing?
When you run the SOC consistently and keep it simple, you strengthen clarity, alignment, and trust. When you don’t, people fill the gaps with their own assumptions—and that’s where misalignment begins.
Run it every quarter. Follow the same structure. Reinforce what matters.
That’s how you ensure your Vision is truly shared by all.
Want to go deeper? Visit the EOS Academy to strengthen how you run meetings and use EOS Tools.
