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Implementer Posts

Keeping Score

Scorecards have been a common theme at EOS sessions I have facilitated lately. In general, I find the EOS Scorecard is one of the most misunderstood tools in the EOS Toolbox. But it doesn’t need to be. For anyone who isn’t familiar, the Scorecard we use in EOS is a set of 5-15 weekly metrics, reviewed at your weekly Level 10 meeting. These metrics should provide you with a true pulse on the health of the business. It’s only 5-15 because you want to be tracking critical activities, not just anything that would be nice to know. And here is where people wander off the path. The ideal metrics are leading indicators. These are activity-based metrics that will help you understand whether you are on track to hit your monthly or quarterly objectives. The Scorecard doesn’t take the place of your monthly report or your quarterly financials. Those are still

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Everyone Rowing in the same Direction

Last month, I wrote about the importance of systems—and the role they play in achieving meaningful goals. This post builds on that idea, but zooms out to something just as critical: alignment. (If you missed January’s post, it’s worth a read for context.) Recently, I finished the book American Icon, which tells the story of Ford’s remarkable turnaround under CEO Alan Mulally. What struck me most wasn’t the brilliance of the strategy. It was how simple—and how relentlessly consistent—his focus was. Mulally summed up Ford’s entire turnaround with two words: One Ford. That idea was broken down into three parts: One Team One Plan One Goal That’s it. No binders. No buzzwords. No competing priorities. Everything—on just two pages—pointed in the same direction, and it was reinforced over and over again. One Team One Team meant eliminating silos and internal competition. Leaders weren’t allowed to optimize their department at the

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I watched a CEO fire his best mate last year.

I watched a CEO fire his best mate last year. They’d started the business together. Ten years of late nights and cash flow crises and trying not to kill each other. Genuinely close. But he had hit his personal ceiling in the business and geniunely wasn’t having fun anymore. He wasn’t up for the growth journey. And honestly, everyone in that room knew it. Had known for a while. So we did the People Analyzer. Not to prove anything, just to get it out of people’s heads and onto paper. Scores came back and the room went dead quiet. They had the conversation that Friday. I won’t pretend it went well. Even though he had hit a ceiling and wasn’t enjoying working in the business that it had grown to be, he was gutted and the CEO looked like he hadn’t slept for a week after. The best mate is

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State of the Company: One Message. One Direction. No Confusion.

In the military, leaders don’t assume everyone “gets it.” They communicate clearly, repeatedly, and from the top. Orders are delivered face-to-face. Expectations are spelled out. Questions are answered. Alignment is non-negotiable. That’s exactly what the EOS State of the Company Address is meant to do. What It Is (And What It’s Not) The State of the Company Address is a formal, leadership-led briefing to the entire organization. It happens once a quarter, right after Quarterly Pulsing. This is not a pep talk.It’s not a slide deck full of buzzwords.And it’s definitely not optional. It’s a clear, honest update on who we are, where the company stands, where it’s going, and what the plan is for the year/quarter ahead. Why It Matters Most employees don’t leave companies, they leave confusion. When people don’t know the plan, they make one up. And made-up plans create rumors, misalignment, and disengagement. The State of

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Vulnerability in Hard-Hat Industries

Why Construction Leadership Requires More Than Toughness In Las Vegas, we build in 115-degree heat. We solve problems fast because delays cost real money. We take pride in being the ones who handle it. Toughness isn’t optional in the trades. But here’s what many construction leaders don’t realize: The same toughness that builds great projects can quietly erode trust on a leadership team. And when trust erodes, performance follows. In EOS, we teach teams to be open and honest with each other. That sounds simple. It’s not. Especially in male-dominated, hard-hat industries where admitting uncertainty can feel risky. But vulnerability isn’t about being soft. It’s part of how you build trust. And trust is what allows a team to be both positive and productive — not just grinding hard, but actually working well together. (If you haven’t read my article on that yet, it’s worth your time.) Let me show

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The Real Differentiator of EOS: Healthy

When most leadership teams hear about EOS®, they focus on Vision and Traction. They want clarity. They want discipline. They want results. And they should. But in my experience, the real differentiator — the one almost no one fully leans into — is Healthy. It’s the piece that makes everything else actually work. Vision Without Healthy Falls Apart You can have a crystal-clear V/TO®. Clear core values. A compelling 10-Year Target™. But if your leadership team cannot sit in a room and work through conflict in a healthy way, alignment doesn’t last. What I see before teams truly get healthy: Hard conversations avoided Side conversations after meetings People nodding in agreement but not fully aligned Decisions reopened Quiet frustration under the surface That’s not traction. That’s tension. Traction Without Healthy Becomes Mechanical You can run strong Level 10 Meetings™. You can IDS® Issues every week. You can hit Rocks consistently.

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