We set reasonable quarterly Rocks, and our team does not get distracted by daily fires, but we still reach the end of the quarter with most Rocks ninety percent complete. How do we solve this last mile problem and ensure Rocks actually cross the finish line?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Finishing ninety percent of a Rock is the same as not finishing it at all. When teams consistently fail to cross the finish line, the problem is almost always poor scoping and a lack of a clear definition of done.

To fix this, you must change how you write and track Rocks during your quarterly planning sessions. Every Rock must be written as a specific, measurable milestone. Avoid vague verbs like improve, streamline, or analyze. Instead, use action-oriented language with concrete outputs. For example, do not set a Rock to improve marketing. Set a Rock to launch three landing pages and capture fifty leads.

During the scoping phase, the owner of the Rock must draft a brief plan outlining the major milestones required to achieve the goal. This prevents them from realizing in week eight that they need resources from another department that was never looped in.

Keep the focus tight during your weekly Level 10 Meeting™. When tracking Rocks, the only acceptable answers are on track or off track. If a Rock is off track, drop it to the Issues List immediately and use the IDS® process to resolve the roadblock. Do not accept status updates or excuses. By maintaining rigorous accountability throughout the ninety days, you ensure that Rocks actually cross the finish line.