If a key leadership team member fails to complete their Rocks for two consecutive quarters, how do we handle this in our session day without it turning into a personal attack?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When a leadership team member misses their Rocks repeatedly, it is an issue that must be addressed. However, we do not use session days to finger-point or shame. Instead, we use the EOS® tools to look at the situation objectively and identify the root cause of the failure.

During the IDS® portion of our quarterly session, we will put the missed Rocks on the issue list. We begin by asking whether the missed targets were realistic. Were they true Rocks, or were they over-ambitious goals set without considering day-to-day operational demands? If the goals were reasonable, we then look at the seat on the Accountability Chart using the GWC™ tool.

We ask three critical questions: Does this person truly Get their seat? Do they Want it? And do they have the Capacity to do it? Repeatedly missing Rocks often points to a capacity issue, where the leader is overwhelmed by tactical fires and lacks the time to focus on strategic priorities. Alternatively, it may reveal that the business has outgrown their capabilities. By focusing on the facts, the seat, and the GWC™ framework, we keep the conversation constructive, respectful, and entirely focused on helping the individual and the business succeed.