At a recent annual meeting with one of my EOS clients, the leadership team, as part of the process, challenged their entire strategic plan. In EOS terminology, they examined the answers to the eight questions in their Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO). You can download a copy here.
Visionary VS CEO
A new client of mine who had just completed the Accountability Chart with his team was clearly in the Visionary seat. After the exercise he said:
Are You Keeping Score?
When it comes to tracking how a business is doing, many business coaches or EOS Implementers™ find that business owners are relying on things like financial reports and other types of forecasting data as a way to monitor the pulse of the company. While tracking financial data is important, it doesn’t give you a full 360° view into how the business is doing. What you really need is consistent access to measurables that show you how you are doing right now, allowing you to correct your course and make changes over time to prevent or minimize errors.
Everyone Has a Number – What’s Yours?
Scorecards help leadership teams come up with numbers that are based on essential activity, but what do those measurables actually mean to the business? When used correctly, your organization’s numbers give everyone a single, measurable unit that guides them in their daily work. The right numbers in a business enable business coaches or EOS Implementers™ to create clarity and accountability throughout the different teams in a business by having a clear picture of expectations and goals. When an organization has clearly defined measurables in place that are each assigned to an individual who is held accountable for them, it gives everyone something to focus on.
It’s Just an Issue…
This is a phrase professional EOS Implementers use frequently. It helps leaders keep things in perspective, avoid unnecessary drama, and focus on resolving Issues (rather than lamenting their inevitable existence). The following story reminded me just how important that discipline is…in business and in life.