We're about 24 months into actually moving to the EOS® structure, which stands for Entrepreneurial Operating System® and if you want to learn about EOS®, you can learn more at EOS® WorldWide. We just love the idea and the simplicity behind it. Now that we've been in it for a while, we've had some scrapes and bruises, and I've had to walk through some of the tough decisions that come from it, it was no longer an idea of an, an actuality, a reality that I walk through with it and actually see the simplicity work.
EOS® Purists
In all my years, my decades now of doing business, this has to be absolutely the most transformational operating system I've ever been a part of. And what I would like to say before we kind of dive into this toolbox, is that anything you decide to put your mind to, what you get from it is exactly what you put into it.
Our commitment to be EOS® purists means we didn't try to change the rules of the game. We wanted to learn from the masters and the experts on how to help a company grow and scale with clarity and power and vision and traction. I think it's also the first time that we ever adopted something and we committed to be purist at it.
Putting in the work
EOS® said it takes about three years to work out your stuff. When we started doing EOS® I thought we could get it all in six months and be done. The truth is it really takes three years so buckle up, settle in and don't change. Don't change the program, just lean into it and commit to it.
Then, your next step is to become EOS® masters. Not only just for your leadership team and not just for yourself as an individual, but for your whole team, be purist and masters in all the things that are EOS®.
Hitting the ceiling
Hitting the ceiling is when you, your department or your company stop growing. It's the feeling of being stuck, overwhelmed, and frustrated.
When you feel like you're not breaking through, you may be hitting the ceiling. It’s like driving and feeling like you passed the same rock 10 miles ago. There’s so much deja vu when it comes to business.
When you reach this point, EOS® really sets you up for success with their Back To The Basics Checklist. We've hit the ceiling inside The Bottom Line® recently and used this checklist to get back on track.
The five leadership abilities
Simplify – Is everything as simple as it could be?
Delegate and elevate – Are you or any of your people above capacity to do the job?
Predict – Are you solving daily and weekly problems as they arise for the long term?
Systematize – Are your core processes documented, simplified, and followed by all?
Structure – Is the right accountability chart in place?
Five Questions Checklist
- Are all of your direct reports, the right people in the right seat?
This has to be your priority. EOS® is just very adamant about the fact that your team and your people and the right people being in the right seats are exactly how you're going to continue to grow in a healthy, productive way, because they're gonna be healthy and productive. - Are all of your meetings healthy, productive, and necessary?
Is the meeting necessary? Are the people in it open and honest? Is there a high level of trust? Is 50% of the meeting time spent solving issues? Are you solving issues for the greater good? This means no duct tape. - Do you and your people have enough time to do the job?
Your people only have a hundred percent of their working time. And if it takes more than a hundred percent of their time to do the job well, meaning the five roles that they get, they want and they have capacity for, and we don’t just have that suck it up attitude. You’ll burn out at some point. - Is everyone following the process?
Are they following core processes and are we doing it the EOS® way, in a way that's going to keep us from hitting the ceiling yet again. - Are you taking clarity breaks?
Have you been taking them according to the commitment you made to take a clarity break? They tell you, you set your own time for clarity breaks and commit to sticking to that time.
If you want to learn more about our journey with EOS® to get back to the basics, check out Episode 101: Back to The Basics Checklist to Achieve Breakthrough When You Are Stuck.
