What are EOS Rocks?
In the EOS framework, Rocks are similar to goals, but they are more specific, clear, and prioritize business tasks that must get accomplished over the next 90 days.
Setting goals is important, but in order to accomplish them – be it in 1, 3 or even 10 years – you must first overcome issues and prioritize on a day-to-day basis to set a clear path for progress.
Rocks are based on issues, obstacles, or challenges that are getting in the way of achieving your goals, which EOS refers to as the “Long-term Issues List.”
“If you have goals but don’t break them down in smaller, attainable chunks, you end up expending energy in too many areas that never really get finished. This leads to stress, burnout, and ultimately can hinder your ability to progress and grow.”
Once your team has aligned around the first set of issues to solve, which is ideally 3 to 7, they become your “90-Day Rocks.”
But the work doesn’t stop there. Rocks must be written and shared in S.M.A.R.T. Goal format: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.
To put it differently, if you have goals but don’t break them down in smaller, attainable chunks, you end up expending energy in too many areas that never really get finished. This leads to stress, burnout, and ultimately can hinder your ability to progress and grow.
In Summary
As a small business, there are always things that need to be done. There are also things you’d like to get done but never find the time to fit them in.
Breaking overwhelming challenges into manageable “Rocks” allows you to focus your full attention on fewer tasks, increasing your probability of getting them accomplished and advancing you closer towards achieving your goals.
In time, you’ll find that overcoming one or two Rocks naturally leads you to the next one and the next. You’ll continue to gain traction from being efficient and effective at accomplishing them. When you reflect back, you’ll find that you have accomplished far more than you would have had you set larger goals.
Whether you’re setting goals for your business or for yourself, consider using this EOS framework to set yourself up for success.
Written by
Diana Murray | CEO
