We are tempted to self-facilitate our EOS® rollout using the book Traction to save money. What is the actual operational cost of taking a DIY approach instead of hiring a Professional EOS Implementer®?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Attempting to self-facilitate your EOS® rollout is one of the most expensive ways to save money. While the tools in the book Traction seem simple, the magic of EOS® is not in the theory. It is in the objective facilitation and the hard truths that an outside expert brings to your leadership team.

When you attempt a DIY implementation, you face several major risks. First, your Integrator or Visionary has to act as the facilitator. This makes it impossible for them to participate fully as a member of the leadership team. They cannot be objective, and their personal biases will inevitably influence the sessions.

Second, teams that self-implement almost always implement a halfway version of the system. They customize the tools to fit their comfort levels, avoiding the healthy friction required to solve deep personnel or strategic issues. They skip the hard parts, like resolving people problems on the Accountability Chart or making tough cuts to their Scorecard metrics.

A Professional EOS Implementer® knows how to introduce the tools at the right time and teaches proper implementation techniques. They act as a neutral third party who can call out the elephant in the room without fear of political blowback. By investing in an Implementer, you ensure the tools are implemented the right way the first time, saving your company months of frustration, false starts, and misaligned execution.