Here's what that means, and how I work.
Most growing companies don't have a problem with effort — they have a problem with focus. The leadership team is busy, but not always pulling in the same direction. The same issues resurface quarter after quarter. Priorities shift with whatever's loudest that week. And too many decisions still run through the owner.
EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) is a set of tools and meeting rhythms built to fix that: one written high-level plan the whole leadership team shares, a short list of priorities each quarter with accountability for their execution, a weekly scorecard of five to fifteen key metrics, and a structured weekly meeting where the team identifies and solves issues.
An outside facilitator runs the quarterly and annual sessions so everyone on the leadership team can take part — rather than one person trying to lead the conversation and contribute to it at the same time. That's the role I play, along with helping teams get started with EOS.
The written plan — where the company is going and how it intends to get there — that the leadership team agrees on and works from.
A full day once a year for the longer view, more strategic: next year's annual goals and challenges.
A full day every 90 days to review the quarter, work the issues list, and set the next Rocks — the handful of goals for the coming quarter.
A same-time, same-agenda weekly meeting the team runs itself, working from the scorecard and the issues list. I help establish it; the team owns it.
More than 30 years in technical sales and manufacturing. I've led product engineering, quality, and sales & marketing; served on company leadership teams; and facilitated EOS sessions across a multi-unit manufacturer — more than 70 day-long sessions.
The practice is one person and stays that way by choice. There are no associates and no handoffs, and I only work with a few teams at a time.
Email is the best way to reach me — whether you have a question about how EOS works or want to think through your own leadership team. I'm always happy to talk.
mark@wootenwork.com