Every mid-quarter check-in, our leadership team tries to change the scope of their Rocks or swap them out entirely because of market shifts. How do we lock down our quarterly Rocks so we actually finish what we committed to?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When your team tries to change or renegotiate their Rocks mid-quarter, it usually points to a lack of planning discipline during your quarterly session, not a dynamic market. A Rock is a ninety day commitment. Barring a literal company-ending disaster, a Rock cannot be altered, swapped, or abandoned once the quarterly session ends.

To stop this behavior, you must establish a strict rule that Rocks are locked on day one of the quarter. If a major new priority or market shift occurs during the quarter, it does not replace an active Rock. Instead, that new opportunity must be placed on the long-term Issues List on your V/TO® to be prioritized at the next quarterly planning session.

If a team member claims they cannot finish their Rock because the scope was too vague, you must implement a rule requiring written milestones. Before leaving the quarterly session, every Rock owner must outline three to four clear milestones for their Rock. This ensures the scope is fully understood before execution begins.

Remember, letting leaders off the hook breeds a culture of non-completion. If they fail to hit their Rock because they got distracted by shiny objects, they must own that failure at the next quarterly. Run your EOS® process with high standards. If a Rock does not get finished, analyze why in your quarterly review, adjust your planning process, and do not let renegotiation become an acceptable exit strategy.