Our Visionary wants to use AI to generate new revenue streams. How do we keep this exploration contained within our EOS structure so it does not distract from our core 1-Year Plan?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

It is the natural instinct of a Visionary to chase new ideas, especially when a technology as powerful as AI comes along. However, allowing your Visionary to disrupt your current operations with half-baked ideas will destroy your team's traction. You must use your EOS structure to contain this energy. Keep all new AI product or service ideas off the current 1-Year Plan and out of the current quarter's Rocks. Instead, place them on your long-term Issues List on the V/TO. This keeps your team focused on delivering their current commitments while ensuring the Visionary's ideas are captured and validated. During your quarterly meetings, use the IDS process to evaluate these ideas. Ask if the proposed AI initiative aligns with your Core Focus and your 3-Year Picture. If it does, you can agree to make it a priority for the following quarter and assign it as a Rock to a specific person on your Accountability Chart. This approach respects the Visionary's creativity while protecting the Integrator's ability to run the business. By forcing every new AI idea to go through the same rigorous prioritization process, you prevent shiny object syndrome and keep your operational focus locked on what actually drives revenue today.