In a recent talk I gave on The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), I asked everyone to rate their company in terms of how ‘great’ their people are, on a scale of 0% to 100%, where 100% is perfect. I heard one person laughing, one of those nervous laughs. So I asked him how happy he is with his people. He answered with a question: “Can I put a minus sign in front of my people rating?” He clearly has frustrations with his people! Does this sound familiar? What do you do when you feel something isn’t quite right with your people? Maybe deep down you know the reason(s), or maybe it’s still a bit fuzzy?   It starts with defining what it means to be ‘great’ for your company. In EOS we use a tool called the People Analyzer™, to help leadership teams to uniquely define what it means to have

I find that many clients misunderstand the real power of the three-year picture.  They’re not wrong. They just need to adjust their scope to fully leverage its value. What is it and what is it NOT? Simply put, it’s not a “plan.” It’s a picture that sets the stage for where your company will be in three short years. Using colorful words and concepts in the bullet points, employees can see the three-year picture in their minds. They become inspired and motivated to be part of it. And when they’re inspired, excitement emerges and momentum begins to build. That’s what you want: Excitement and momentum pushing towards what’s “possible.” How does it fit into the EOS process? The three-year picture is a simple but powerful part of the EOS process. It’s on the Vision side of the V/TO. In fact, it’s the last section on the “Vision” side before moving

To keep a business growing to new levels of success, you must delegate. Most business owners would agree with this statement in theory, but the moment they consider what they could delegate, they hit a roadblock. They feel overwhelmed by all the reasons why they can’t. They think, “My business is too small,” or “We don’t have the budget,” or “It would take too long to train someone.” Start by Asking “Why” Why are you delegating? It’s really not about making your life easier or getting rid of tasks that cause you headaches (though that can be a benefit). It’s about creating a path for you to focus on what’s most valuable for your business. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessary discipline to drive business success. You slow down progress every time you take on tasks that can be done more cost effectively by others or when you simply don’t work

Consistent solving and moving through issues are some of the most difficult challenges entrepreneurs face. It’s not surprising that most find it challenging and frustrating. It takes focus, discipline and a solid methodology to get it right. Here’s where many entrepreneurs get tripped up: #1. They don’t clearly identify the root issue. The issue produces so many pain points that they don’t know how to dig deep and identify what the real issue is. #2. They don’t recognize big issues are made up of smaller ones. Issues might have several sub-parts or smaller issues embedded in them. #3. They dive into unproductive discussion. Their discussion comes from a place of frustration, opinion and emotion, and it’s harder to step back and see what the real issue is.   Setting the Stage for Success EOS covers the IDS methodology (Identify, Discuss and Solve). This is the methodology that will keep you focused

Michigan’s 2013 trip to the final four began in 2010, just after Michigan completed a disappointing 15-17 season. John Beilein met with his new coaching staff and answered some fundamental questions that defined his leadership as Michigan’s head coach. Questions like: “Who are you? What do you stand for? How would you define it?” The questions were answered and written down. Ultimately the staff settled on five words that truly defined the leadership of Michigan’s basketball program: Unity. Passion. Appreciation. Integrity. Diligence. Since that time, Michigan has focused on recruiting players that embody these core values. Not every potential recruit embodies these core values. This reduced the number of prospective players that they could choose from, but Michigan was o.k. with that.   By consistently leading with these core values, Michigan’s basketball program is now having its best season in nearly two decades. It’s no coincidence, and it didn’t happen

If so, maybe you can relate to the following situation in your company. Your meeting runs longer than planned. You are rushing out the door as the meeting finally comes to an end and are scrambling just to make it to your next appointment. Giving each other real time feedback before leaving the room isn’t even a thought in your mind. Instead, you find yourself venting to a partner or colleague about something that happened, or about something that should have happened in the meeting earlier. This is especially true after a frustrating meeting. How often does this happen in your business?   Giving each other real feedback in person at the end of each meeting is vital. While it can be uncomfortable at times, it is critical for the growth, development, and health of your team. Here are three benefits of making “feedback” a regular agenda item at the end