How do we handle a leadership team member who consistently hits their weekly Milestones but still fails to cross the finish line on their Rock due to last-mile integration issues?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

This is a classic execution gap that usually points to a conative mismatch or a lack of clear ownership. When someone green-lights their weekly milestones but fails to deliver the final Rock in week twelve, they are treating the Rock like a task checklist rather than an outcome. To solve this, you need to change how you define completion. A Rock is not done when the individual finishes their part of the work. It is done when the result is fully integrated into the business and operational. During your next quarterly planning session, write down the definition of done for every single Rock. If a Rock involves launching a new CRM, done does not mean the software is purchased and configured. Done means the sales team is actively using it and the weekly data is flowing to the scorecard. If your team member has a high Fact Finder or Follow Thru score on the Kolbe Index, they might get bogged down in the details and struggle with the messy final push of launch and adoption. You must coach them to identify these integration bottlenecks early. In your Level 10 Meeting™, do not just ask if the Rock is on track. Ask if the integration plan is on track. If they cannot confirm that the ultimate users are ready to adopt, the Rock is off track.