David McCullough, biographer of John Adams, Teddy Roosevelt and Harry Truman was asked recently about the qualities that made these presidents along with George Washington and Abraham Lincoln truly great. He listed four:

Some of my teams hit an emotional wall after their first year of implementing EOS. Teams that begin with many large issues to resolve, can make significant progress in the first year and, because of what is still left to accomplish, still feel unsatisfied and a bit discouraged. It’s not unlike the marathoner who, after completing 10 miles, realizes there are still 16 miles to go. If you are feeling a bit exhausted from the first 10, the prospect of running out the final 16 can feel overwhelming. Dan Sullivan calls it “the gap” between where we are and where we want to be.

There are two key steps that leadership teams must take in order to systemize their core processes. The first is to identify, simplify and document all of the core processes within the business and the second is to ensure that everyone in the organization follows these processes. Business coaches or EOS Implementers™ begin this exercise by scheduling an hour or so with leadership teams in order to identify, define and agree on what their core processes are. These core processes (typically 6-10) are similar in every organization, no matter how big or how small, and typically include processes in HR, marketing and sales, operations, accounting and customer-retention. No matter how many of these core processes leadership teams identify, everyone needs to be on the same page in terms of what to call them and what they consist of. Doing this creates clarity, reduces confusion, and gets everyone speaking the same language.

It’s impossible for leadership teams and business owners to fine-tune the business and develop a strategic plan for growth if the core processes found within the organization aren’t consistent. Business coaches or EOS Implementers™ teach the value of taking a high-level view into the organization, one where leadership teams look at all of the moving parts, stepping outside of their typical role in order to fully understand the big picture. For those who are deeply entrenched in the business (as most entrepreneurs are!), this is especially important, as it’s easy for processes to fall by the wayside when team members are focused on other things.