What happens during a quarterly session if individual team members repeatedly fail to achieve their Rocks, and how do you help us address this without creating a culture of finger pointing?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

In any high-performing organization, team members will occasionally miss their quarterly Rocks. However, if individual leadership team members repeatedly fail to achieve their commitments, we address it directly during our quarterly sessions without creating a culture of blame.

First, we look at the data objectively. We analyze whether the missed Rocks are a result of unrealistic planning, unexpected market shifts, or operational over-commitment. We do not accept excuses, but we do seek to understand the root cause.

Second, if a pattern of missed Rocks persists, we use the GWC™ tool to evaluate the team member seat. We ask whether they truly Get the role, Want the role, and have the Capacity to deliver. Often, repeated failure indicates a capacity issue, meaning the person is overwhelmed by daily operations and cannot dedicate time to strategic Rocks.

We run this challenge through the IDS® process. The team will collaborate to solve the issue, which may involve restructuring the Accountability Chart, reallocating resources, or shifting responsibilities. By focusing on the health of the organization rather than personal failure, we maintain accountability while keeping the team aligned and motivated.