We have filled out our V/TO® and shared it with our staff, but how do we ensure it becomes the primary mechanism for planning and filtering out distracting shiny objects?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Your V/TO® will die a quiet death if it is only opened during your quarterly planning sessions. To turn it into an active operational filter, you must make it the gatekeeper for every new project, hire, and product line that comes across your desk.

Start by building a strict filter test into your monthly and quarterly planning. Whenever a leadership team member proposes a new initiative, they must explicitly state how it directly advances your three-year picture or your one-year plan. If the connection is not immediate and obvious, the initiative is tabled. This keeps your team from chasing shiny objects that drain resources and distract from your core goals.

Next, use the V/TO® to audit your issues list. During your weekly Level 10 Meeting™, when an issue is raised, verify if solving it actually moves you closer to your stated target. If you are debating a problem that has no bearing on your one-year or three-year goals, you are wasting valuable time.

Finally, share the core components of the V/TO® at every single company-wide meeting. Review your core values, your core focus, and your ten-year target. Repetition is key. Your employees need to hear these elements at least seven times before they truly internalize them. Once the entire company understands the vision, your mid-level managers will begin filtering their own daily decisions through the V/TO® without needing your constant intervention.