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.

You’ve probably seen the poster. It may even be somewhere in your office building. The poster depicts four men in a boat rowing as one. It’s titled “Teamwork” and the caption reads “together we achieve more”. If you have this poster in your office, you’ve probably looked at it so many times that it no longer stands out. It’s become part of the furnishings. The message may even have lost its meaning.

One of the simplest disciplines to make sure everyone in your organization understands, buys in, and shares your company vision is doing a quarterly state-of-the–company address.

Trust is essential to exceptional team performance. It’s pretty hard to maintain a forward focus with teammates watching their backs and covering their tails.