Most people are familiar with the age-old story of filling a jar with Rocks, Pebbles, and Sand – the idea that if you focus on the little things first, you won’t have enough room to fit the big items – the rocks – later. Finding a place for the rocks first will ultimately allow for higher achievement. This metaphor is clear for entrepreneurs as well – your time is a valuable resource and understanding what your “rocks” are can unlock growth and clarity in your business.
Your quarterly goals in EOS are called Rocks – your priorities for the next 90 days. Setting Rocks at the start of every quarter sets you up for success by making room for your top priorities, so that the pebbles and sand (the everyday tasks that take up your day) are prioritized accordingly.
Setting SMART Rocks
Rocks should be SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-bound. They should be clear enough that anyone on the team can understand what will be done, and by when.
- Specific: Clearly define what you want to accomplish.
- Measurable: Ensure you can track your progress and measure the outcome.
- Achievable: Set realistic goals that are attainable.
- Relevant: Make sure the goal aligns with your broader objectives.
- Time-bound: Set a deadline to create a sense of urgency.
Elevate your Rocks
At ROC Advisors, we advocate that each Rock should come with a one-page description of the Rock – giving clarity on the required activities, outcomes, milestones, and context. The one-pager takes you to the next level in setting up your Rocks and eliminates any confusion at the end of the quarter. It also provides a more concrete way to measure if a Rock is truly On or Off Track in your weekly L10 meeting.
Everyone should have a Rock, every quarter. Generally, 1-3 Rocks is a good number of Rocks for a leader in the business. As a company, you should aim for 80% completion or higher for your Rocks.
Common Challenges
There are a few common pitfalls with Rocks:
- Rocks are on-track until the last week of the quarter. This most often happens when there is a lack of clarity. Having a strong one-pager that truly explains the Rock will make it easier to have an Accountable team.
- Priorities change, and the Rock is no longer relevant. This does happen occasionally, but often it is due to a lack of clarity in the vision. Revisit your teams V/TO and make sure the path forward is clear – that the one-year, 3-year and 10-year vision are aligned.
- Rocks are too externally focused or out of the team’s control. Entrepreneurs are often challenged with priorities that are outside of their control – and Rocks can quickly become off-track when they depend on external factors. Sales would be a common example, as Rocks that depend on closing certain clients can often seem out of your control. Sometimes this is necessary, but where possible shift your Rocks in two ways:
- Activity-based over Outcome-based. The activities that you complete drive your outcomes. If you take the right steps, you will get the right results 80% of the time.
- Focus on what you can control and set Rocks internally rather than externally.
Do you need help getting started with your Rocks, or getting them back on Track? Reach out to our team today!