At the start of the EOS journey, many companies struggle to clearly define their Rocks and To-dos. There is a learning process where the team collectively improves at writing SMART statements for Rocks. Even for companies farther along in their EOS journey, there can be some complacency and a struggle to make to-dos clear. If you’re just getting started with Rocks, check out our earlier blog here.
First off, all Rocks should be written as 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. 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.
Making it clear
As an example, suppose that a project manager at a construction company has a rock for the Successful completion of a large project. But what does successful completion actually mean? Are there specific goals for Schedule, Scope, Cost, Safety, People, or other metrics? Successful completion is not a specific enough measure – but writing out what successful completion means on a one-pager will make it clear.
What does success look like?
Also keep in mind that Rocks are meant to have an 80% success rate – and in the example above, the targets should be set with that in mind. Success could mean meeting 4/5 criteria, instead of a flawless project where any one issue could derail the Rock.
At the same time, you still need to hold each other accountable for Rock completion. If the Rock is clearly defined that a certain target must be completed by March 31, and it is completed on April 3 – the Rock was not achieved. Consider these scenarios when setting your Rocks – and once the Rocks are set, hold yourself accountable to them.
If you are looking for additional support with facilitation, reach out to us today!