Yes, You Can Self-Implement EOS®—But SHOULD You?

Certified EOS Implementers® help you navigate the uncharted waters of the Entrepreneurial Operating System®. But you don’t need to hire an Implementer in order to run on EOS®. Many entrepreneurial leadership teams get excited about EOS and start implementing it on their own. As one business owner put it, “(Entrepreneurs) think we can figure anything out—that’s our superpower as well as our kryptonite. So why hire someone when we can just do it ourselves?…EOS seems simple, so we think we can do it without assistance.”

Can you self-implement EOS? Yes, probably. EOS is based on simple concepts and a simple process, which is one of the reasons it’s proven to be so powerfully effective. The real question is, Should you self-implement EOS? Just because you can take on the challenge, that doesn’t make it the right decision. Here are four questions to ask your leadership team before you commit to self-implementing EOS at your company.

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Who Will Be the Implementer?

It takes a particular kind of person to assume the role of implementer on your leadership team. You need someone who can be a:

• Teacher. Learn all the EOS Tools by attending EOS Boot Camp and quarterly trainings, and studying the training materials in EOS Basecamp.
• Facilitator. Objectively get everyone’s thoughts, ideas and perspectives out of their heads and into the open. An unbiased approach is incredibly important here so that the team knows that the Implementer isn’t taking sides with anyone on the team—and always with the company’s greater good interest in mind.
• Coach. Hold the team accountable to the commitments they make. Just as an athletic coach develops their players, an Implementer helps your team “play the game” that much better. Call out the dysfunction when it occurs, regardless of who it comes from—family member, owner, Visionary, partner or employee.

It’s not an easy task to fill the role of Implementer. You’ve got to Get It, Want It, and have the Capacity to take the reins. You’ll also need to have a thick skin, remain objective and resist bending to anyone’s authority or influence.

If you don’t have someone with these qualities, it may be best to start a conversation with a Certified EOS Implementer.

Do You Have the Time?

If you take on the role of an EOS Implementer for your company, you’ll be accepting new responsibilities that will make claims on your time. Be prepared to add these items to your list:

• Studying hours and hours of facilitation videos
• Studying the Implementer guides
• Practicing it all…and practicing some more
• Attending the three-day intensive EOS Boot Camp and quarterly ongoing training days
• Preparing for and facilitating offsite full-day Quarterly and two-day Annual Planning Sessions

Implementing EOS isn’t something you can slip into your spare moments here and there. It’s a weighty commitment that comes with certain demands on your time. Don’t take on the role lightly.

Do You Have the Discipline?

It’s incredibly tempting to take shortcuts with EOS, especially when you’re still getting used to it. “Do we really need to meet every week?” “We’ve got a lot of IDSing™ to do—let’s skip the Rock review.” “We have a client event coming up next week, so let’s just push out our quarterly planning session out.”

If you’re going to get the most out of EOS, it will take discipline and a commitment to running purely on EOS. Often—especially at first—your Implementer may be the only person on your leadership team to stick to the EOS Process™. For some people, those moments can be frustrating or discouraging.

Until your team sees the results you get from running purely on EOS, you may encounter resistance more than once. But the teams that have the greatest success honor their commitments, and they don’t reschedule dates unless there is a life emergency.

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Can You Take Off Your Blinders?

One of the greatest assets of a Certified or Professional EOS Implementer is their objectivity. There’s no dysfunctional history, or shared assumptions about the business or industry, that the Implementer needs to set aside. He or she can facilitate without taking sides and without being blinded by false assumptions that may have worked their way into the organization. Having that objectivity as a sounding board is incredibly valuable to leadership teams.

If you choose to self-implement EOS at your company, the person who acts as Implementer will need to facilitate tough discussions and help team members enter into uncharted waters. They will need to call out sacred cows and acknowledge the elephant in the room when no one else is willing to. The Implementer’s role is to help your team to become open and honest in the moment. When your leadership team isn’t open and honest in the moment, your whole company suffers.

If that’s not something your leadership team members are prepared for, then you may want to consider hiring a Certified or Professional EOS Implementer. They can help you think through your situation and provide insights to help you make the right decision for your organization.

Do you need to start a conversation with a Certified EOS Implementer? I’m ready to help you figure out which solution makes the most sense for your company! Request a discovery call today.