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.

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.

When business coaches or EOS Implementers™ talk about gaining traction in the business, they are talking about making the vision for the business a reality. Once leadership teams have solidified their vision, put the right people in the right seats and defined their way of doing business from the ground up, they are prepared to gain Traction.