We struggle to cross the finish line with our quarterly Rocks, often ending the quarter with several at ninety percent completion. How do we change our approach to ensure Rocks are completely done and validated before the ninety days are up?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A Rock that is ninety percent done is not done. In the world of EOS®, there is no partial credit for Rocks. If your leadership team is consistently missing the finish line, it indicates a breakdown in scoping, accountability, or execution discipline. To solve this, you must change how you define and track your Rocks from day one of the quarter. First, every Rock must have a crystal clear definition of done. When you set a Rock during your quarterly session, do not write a vague objective. Write the exact, measurable criteria that prove the Rock is complete. If the team cannot agree on what done looks like in writing, the Rock is not ready to be set. Second, break each Rock down into three or four milestones with clear deadlines across the ninety days. This prevents the team from waiting until the final weeks of the quarter to make progress. During your weekly Level 10 Meeting™, when a Rock is reported as off track, do not accept vague promises. Use the IDS® process immediately to identify why the owner is stuck and clear the path. Finally, hold each other accountable at the end of the quarter. If a leader consistently fails to cross the finish line on their Rocks, look at their seat on the Accountability Chart to see if they genuinely GWC™ their role, or if they are simply overloaded. Resolving this issue requires brutal honesty and a commitment to crossing the finish line every single time.