Our leadership team is overwhelmed by the sheer volume of new AI tools released every week, causing us to constantly shift our quarterly priorities. How do we use Keith Cunningham's Thinking Time and the EOS® Rock-setting process to filter out the noise and focus on strategic tech initiatives?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Shiny object syndrome is the ultimate killer of operational traction. If your leadership team is chasing every new AI tool, you will spin your wheels and accomplish nothing. You must install a disciplined filter to separate tech trends from strategic priorities.

- Start by allocating dedicated Thinking Time sessions, as championed by Keith Cunningham. Take 30 to 45 minutes, turn off all distractions, and sit with a high-value question. Do not ask, what AI tools should we buy? Instead, ask, what is the single biggest bottleneck in our delivery process, and how might we use automation to solve it? This shifts your focus from the technology itself to the business problem you are trying to solve.

- Next, enforce the discipline of the EOS® Rock-setting process. Your leadership team can only have three to seven corporate Rocks per quarter. If an AI tool does not directly support one of those agreed-upon Rocks, or if it does not fit within your V/TO® Core Focus™, it must be ignored until the next quarterly meeting.

- When a new tool is proposed, put it on your Issues List. Do not discuss it immediately. Let it sit there. During your next quarterly planning session, run it through the IDS® process. If it is truly strategic, turn it into a Rock for the next quarter. If not, archive it.