MOVING THE BIG ROCKS: A GUIDE TO EXECUTION AND VISIONARY FREEDOM

Most of you are already familiar with the concept of Rocks—those 3 to 7 most important priorities that must get done every quarter. Although knowing what they are and actually crushing them are two different disciplines.

In my work with leadership teams, I’ve noticed a recurring pattern: when Rocks stall, the Visionary gets pulled back into the “weeds” to fix things. This creates a bottleneck. To achieve your 10-Year Target, the Visionary must be free to create, and that only happens when the team masters the art of the 90-day sprint.

Here is how you can sharpen your execution starting today.

1. The “Definition of Done” Test

A common reason Rocks fail is that they are too vague. “Improve marketing” is a project; it isn’t a Rock.

Actionable Takeaway: Audit your current Rocks. If a Rock doesn’t have a clear “Yes/No” binary outcome, rewrite it.
The EOS Tool: Use the SMART filter (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely). If you can’t prove it’s done in five seconds on the last day of the quarter, it’s not defined well enough.

2. Kill the “Kitchen Sink” Mentality

If you have more than seven Rocks, you actually have zero. When we overload our plate, we treat every Rock with equal (and often mediocre) effort.

Actionable Takeaway: Look at your list. If you had to drop everything except one item to ensure the company’s success this quarter, which would it be? That is your key initiative. Make sure it is a company Rock and gets your best energy.
The EOS Tool: The V/TO (Vision/Traction Organizer). Check your Rocks against your 1-Year Plan. If the Rock doesn’t directly support a 1-Year Goal, ask yourself does it need done now or should we have moved it to the Long-Term Issues List.

3. Mastering the IDS in your Level 10 Meeting™

If a Rock is “Off Track” for two weeks in a row, it’s no longer a status update—it’s an Issue.

Actionable Takeaway: Don’t just report that a Rock is failing; drop it down to the IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) portion of your meeting. Ask: “What is the specific obstacle stopping this Rock?”
The EOS Tool: Use the Level 10 Meeting agenda as it’s designed. Solving the “Off Track” Rock early in the quarter is the only way to protect the Visionary’s time later on.

How This Frees the Visionary

A Visionary thrives on the “What’s Next.” When Rocks are completed consistently, trust is built. When the Integrator and the leadership team own the “How,” the Visionary is finally “freed” from the friction of daily operations and will help move the business forward.

Traction is the oxygen that allows the Vision to reach the next level.

Your “Help First” Checklist for This Week:

Review: Does every Rock have one clear owner? (No “split” ownership!)
Verify: Is the “Definition of Done” written down and agreed upon?
IDS: If a Rock is “Off Track” today, what is the one To-Do you can assign this week to move it 10% forward?