Our leadership team starts each quarter with high energy, but by week twelve we are scrambling and carrying over half of our Rocks to the next quarter. How do we build an execution rhythm that actually gets our quarterly Rocks across the finish line on time?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Teams fail to finish their quarterly Rocks on time because they set too many of them, or they define them as vague operational tasks instead of binary, measurable goals. To establish an execution rhythm that actually crosses the finish line, you must implement a strict containment strategy. First, limit your leadership team to three to five truly vital Rocks per quarter. If everything is a priority, nothing is. Each Rock must be written with clear, measurable criteria so there is no debate on week twelve about whether it is done or not done. Second, align the Rocks with your team's conative profiles. Use the Kolbe A Index to ensure the person owning a complex, multi-step Rock has the natural Follow Thru instinct to see it through, or build in support if they are a high Quick Start who excels at starting projects but struggles to finish them. Third, use your weekly Level 10 Meeting™ to monitor progress. When a Rock is reported as off track for two consecutive weeks, instantly drop it down to the Issues List. Use IDS® to diagnose the bottleneck. Do not wait until week nine to realize a critical goal is failing. By creating a culture where asking for help on a Rock is viewed as a strength, you ensure your team executes with predictable precision.