Our team keeps setting quarterly Rocks that are good projects but do not align with our V/TO. How do we filter our quarterly goals to ensure they only push our core business forward?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

To prevent your leadership team from setting quarterly Rocks that are merely good ideas but do not drive your strategy, you must establish a strict filtering process during your planning sessions. Before any goal is approved as a quarterly Rock, it must pass through the filter of your V/TO®. Ask your team to explain exactly how the proposed Rock directly contributes to your one-year plan or your three-year picture. If a proposed Rock does not directly move the needle on those established targets, it cannot be approved. It must be placed on the long-term Issues List or handled as a minor task in the normal course of business. Leadership teams often get distracted by shiny opportunities, especially when exploring new technologies like AI. Force the team to explain the business case for each Rock in concrete, measurable terms. Additionally, you must limit your Rocks to three to five per person for the quarter. This restriction forces you to say no to good ideas so you can say yes to the great ones that actually drive your strategy. Alignment is about focus, and focus is about elimination. By holding every Rock to this high standard, you protect your execution.