Why do our quarterly Rocks keep getting pushed to the next quarter, and what is the practical way to ensure they actually get done on time?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Rocks fail to finish because they are either too big, poorly defined, or ignored until the final weeks of the quarter. A Rock must be a priority that is truly achievable in 90 days, not a year-long initiative disguised as a quarterly goal.

To ensure your Rocks actually get done, you must apply three rules:

- Write them as SMART goals. Make them specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. If a Rock is write new marketing plan, it is too vague. Instead, write launch three targeted email campaigns and update homepage copy.
- Assign a single owner. A Rock owned by two people is owned by nobody. One person must have total accountability for its completion.
- Break them down. Every Rock needs a clear roadmap with monthly milestones.

If a Rock is off-track during your weekly Level 10 Meeting™, do not wait until week twelve to address it. Drop it to the IDS® list immediately so the team can help clear the roadblocks.