One of our department heads has reported their Rock as off-track for four consecutive weeks but insists they have a plan to recover and refuses to allow us to drop it to the Issues List for IDS. How long do we let a leader claim an off-track Rock is in progress before forcing a collective problem-solving session?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A quarterly Rock is a high-priority milestone that must be achieved to keep the business on track. When a department head reports a Rock as off-track for multiple weeks but refuses to drop it to the Issues List, they are hiding a potential failure from the team.

The rule for the Rock review is simple: a Rock is either on track or off track. There is no middle ground, and there is no room for excuses during the review. If a leader reports a Rock as off-track for more than two consecutive weeks, the facilitator must automatically drop it to the Issues List.

The leader does not have a choice in this matter. Dropping the off-track Rock to the list is not a punishment or an accusation of failure. It is an opportunity for the leadership team to use IDS® to help them clear obstacles, reallocate resources, or adjust the plan.

By forcing this transition early, you prevent end-of-quarter surprises and ensure the entire team is aligned to help each other succeed.