Every year during annual planning, we urge our clients to take a hard look at their core values and make sure they are standing the test of time; to confirm they are still the foundation the leadership team wants to build the company upon; and to make sure they are keeping them alive by hiring, firing, reviewing, rewarding, and recognizing everyone around them.

Here's a quick nugget, mini passionate plea, and something to think about on your next Clarity Break. I've just finished all of my annual planning sessions with all of my clients (30 in total), and they averaged a 16 percent growth rate in 2012. There is an interesting whipsaw effect going on from the downturn of the great recession to the impressive growth of the last three years.

Once leadership teams have reviewed their completed Vision/Traction Organizer™ (V/TO™) and determined the 3 to 7 top goals for the business, it’s time to get down to defining the main priorities for the quarter. Establishing your rocks sometimes involves an intense discussion and debate that ultimately condenses the list of all the things that can be done into the top 3-7 priorities. It may seem like an impossible task when you are first jumping into it, but after a healthy discussion with your team and a clear focus on the overall goals for the business, the right priorities will become crystal clear.

Once a leadership team has completed The Vision Component™, it’s time to list the short-term tasks that will contribute to achieving their vision. These priorities, or “Rocks”, are the 3-7 priorities you’ll focus on for the next 90 days. Instead of being overwhelmed with how to accomplish the big stuff by only looking at annual goals, breaking everything down into a “90 Day World” helps goals and priorities become much more manageable. Breaking down goals into bite-size chunks, or Rocks, leaves teams free to focus on what is most important. This increased intensity and focus on clear goals is what helps leadership teams gain traction on the business.

I have this Rock… and now I can see that I really need to do something else instead. Can I just not do that Rock?