Tool: Rocks

Briefing Document: Rocks

Executive Summary: Rocks are key, actionable priorities that are achievable within a 90-day window [1, 2]. Setting Rocks is a tool used within the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) to create focus, alignment, and accountability within an organization [3, 4]. The goal is to have everyone focused in one direction to achieve amazing things [5, 6].

I. Core Principles and Methodologies:

• 90-Day Deliverables: Rocks must be achievable within a 90-day timeframe [7]. The concept of a "90-Day World" enables a team to maintain focus and reconnect with priorities every 90 days [8, 9].
• Value Maximization: Each Rock should demonstrably contribute to increasing business value [7].
• SMART Objectives: Rocks should be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound [1, 10-12].
• Limited Number: Individuals outside the leadership team should have one to three Rocks, while leadership team members should have three to seven Rocks [13, 14]. Less is more [9, 15, 16].
• Prioritization: Rocks represent the big priorities that must get done [6].
• Connection to Vision: Rocks should be based on the one-year plan, which in turn puts you on track for the three-year picture [8].

II. Implementation and Process:

• Laundry List: Begin by listing everything that must get done in the business in the next 90 days [17].
• Keep, Kill, or Combine: Decide whether to keep, kill, or combine each item on the list as a candidate for Company Quarterly Rocks [18, 19].
• Prioritize: Star the most important candidates until the list is narrowed down to 3-7 Rocks [18].
• Assign Ownership: Each company Rock must be owned by one person on the leadership team [20].
• Individual Rocks: Leadership team members carry forward any company Rocks that they own to their individual list of Rocks and then come up with their most important three to seven individual Rocks [21].
• Rock Sheet: Create a Rock Sheet that displays the organization’s Rocks at the top and each of the leadership team’s individual Rocks below [22, 23].
• Share with the Organization: Share the company Rocks with the entire organization [24].
• Departmental Rocks: Each department should set their Rocks as a team [13].
• Review: Review Rocks in weekly meetings [22, 25]. Each person reports whether their Rock is "on track" or "off track" [25].

III. Potential Obstacles and Mitigation Strategies:

• Setting the Wrong Rocks: Make sure to spend the necessary time setting the right Rocks and do not rush the process [26].
• Commitment Fizzle: Be fully committed to Rocks every quarter [14].
• Too Many Rocks: Don’t give people outside of the leadership team more than three Rocks [14].
• Mastery Takes Time: It takes two quarters to master Rocks [26].

IV. Benefits of Using Rocks:

• Focus: Rocks help to focus on the big-picture items [9, 27].
• Accountability: Rocks create clear accountability [22, 28].
• Communication: Rocks facilitate communication [27, 28].
• Traction: Rocks help to achieve goals and move in a positive direction [29].
• Organization: Rocks allow people to work toward one-year goals in bite-sized chunks [29].

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