SMART framework matched with EOS® ROCK Setting

Effective goal-setting is an ESSENTIAL ability for leaders. It is a deceivingly difficult task as it requires both the individuals HARD and SOFT skills as well as the companies clear vision and transparent objectives to do well.

"Hard" being the technical, industry specific or economic skills and insights.

"Soft" being the individual's determination, ability to predict, and collaboration.

These skills combined with the SMART Goal framework (and a system of accountability like EOS) set you up to make the most impact on the organization with every one of your completed goals.

Why?

Because when you embrace SMART - you must do the work to go deep, you can't phone it in with a goal like "Grow sales team". You made the effort to pull from both your hard + soft skills to ensure that you set high leverage priorities.

EOS takes the SMART framework a step further by inviting a 2-part PEER REVIEW before a rock (Rock=90 Day Goal) can be crystallized. Your fellow team members must sign off on...

1) Is it SMART?

2) Is it the right rock for you?

I love EOS, have I mentioned that? It cut's through so much mediocrity and help's leaders level up by driving a common language and simple set of tools - which allows for leaders and teams to get the best out of each other.

Here's why the peer review matters when setting goals/rocks and why I recommend doing this with or without EOS.

//(Peers)pective//

You can write a goal you think is SMART (it ticks all the letter-boxes in your mind) but the true test is whether someone who hears it for the first time - can immediately grasp what complete looks like and (assuming they are vision/values aligned people) can also help gauge it's fit for the who and when.

//Alignment to Vision//

The most overlooked of the letters is "R" - RELEVANT. Many set goals that are passion projects or reactionary to a shiny object but are not relevant in the long run. Or worse, there is little consequence or impact if the goal doesn't get done. Which can lead to not really caring if you are on track or off track with your goals.

>>EOS helps immensely with this as the entire model and system helps to distill the relevant key components as a north star pointing to the where we are headed.

//Prevent Overlap//

Imagine a Sales Manager who sets a goal to hire more sales associates to increase sales. Meanwhile, the Marketing Director sets a goal to refocus lead generation campaigns to bring in fewer quantity, but higher quality leads.

Now you've got more sales people with less leads.

So take this is a reminder to make the extra effort when setting goals, whether quarterly rocks, one-year goals or even shorter term sprint goals. It is well worth it. Ask for a peer review. Lean into the feedback.