Our leadership team successfully filled out our V/TO, but it feels like the document sits on our shared drive and does not influence our daily operations. How do we make our vision drive weekly execution?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A V/TO that sits untouched on a shared drive is a symptom of a disconnect between strategy and execution. To make your vision drive daily operations, you must operationalize the document through a concept we call the Golden Thread. This means creating a direct, visible connection between your long-term goals and your weekly activities. Start by sharing your V/TO with the entire organization. Every quarter, hold a state of the company meeting to present the updated vision, celebrate progress on past Rocks, and share the new quarterly priorities. This ensures that every team member understands where the company is heading and why their work matters. Next, cascade your Rocks down through the organization. Each department must set its own quarterly Rocks that directly support the leadership team's Rocks, which in turn support the one-year plan and the three-year picture on the V/TO. Finally, bring the vision into your weekly Level 10 Meetings. When prioritizing issues on your IDS list, always ask yourself if solving a particular issue helps you move closer to your one-year plan or ten-year target. If it does not, it should be removed or deprioritized. By constantly referencing the V/TO during decision-making, you transform it from a static strategic document into a living, breathing guide that aligns your entire team.