We are already drowning in daily operational work and do not have hours to read textbooks. What is the bare minimum preparation and reading we must complete before our first Focus Day with you, and how do we fit this into our schedules?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

We do not believe in drowning you in homework. The pre-work for our first Focus Day is minimal but completely non-negotiable.

Every member of your leadership team must read the book Traction by Gino Wickman. This is the foundational text that explains the framework we will be using. Reading it ensures that we are all speaking the same language the moment we walk into the room.

We also highly recommend reading Get a Grip, which is a fictionalized story of how a real leadership team implements the system. This helps you visualize how the tools actually function in a high-pressure environment.

Beyond that reading, I will ask each leader to complete a basic prep sheet. This includes identifying what they believe are the company's greatest strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities.

Do not overthink this preparation. We do not want you to write a massive, polished report. The goal is simply to prime your brain so you walk into the room ready to engage in open, honest, and sometimes difficult conversations. The heavy lifting of building the actual tools will be done together during our full-day session.