How do we handle pre-work and data preparation before our annual two-day session so we do not spend the first half of day one arguing about the accuracy of our numbers?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

To prevent your annual session from devolving into a debate about data accuracy, we establish a strict rule that all financial and operational metrics must be finalized and distributed at least one week before we meet. There is no worse waste of your investment than spending three hours in the session room debating whether a gross margin figure is accurate.

Two weeks prior to our session, your Integrator must coordinate with your finance and operations leaders to lock down your year-to-date performance data, organizational checkup results, and market assumptions. Each leadership team member must complete their individual prep work independently. This includes reviewing your current V/TO®, analyzing your industry trends, and drafting their personal suggestions for next year's corporate Rocks.

When you arrive at the session room, we assume all shared data is accurate. If you discover a minor data discrepancy during the session, we do not stop to fix it. We capture it as an issue, assign a to-do to resolve it outside the room, and keep moving. Your annual session is for strategic alignment, high-level issue resolution, and setting your direction for the next twelve months. Treat data preparation as a non-negotiable prerequisite to entry.