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Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business

by Gino Wickman · 2007

In a nutshell

Gino Wickman's Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)—a complete system for running your company. Essential for founders who want structure and clarity as they scale.

Overview

Gino Wickman presents the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)—a holistic approach to getting what you want from your business through vision, traction, and health.

The Six Key Components

1. Vision

  • Get everyone 100% on the same page
  • Answer 8 questions:
    • Core Values?
    • Core Focus?
    • 10-Year Target?
    • Marketing Strategy?
    • 3-Year Picture?
    • 1-Year Plan?
    • Quarterly Rocks?
    • Issues?

2. People

  • Right people in right seats
  • GWC: Get it, Want it, Capacity to do it
  • Accountability Chart (not org chart)
  • Core Values alignment

3. Data

  • 5-15 key numbers
  • Weekly scorecard
  • Leading indicators
  • Everyone has a number

4. Issues

  • Identify, Discuss, Solve (IDS)
  • Issues list
  • Prioritize and solve systematically
  • Don't let issues linger

5. Process

  • Document core processes
  • Followed by All (FBA)
  • 3-7 core processes
  • 20% documented gives 80% value

6. Traction

  • Rocks: 90-day priorities
  • Meeting Pulse: Weekly L10 meetings
  • Everyone has 3-7 Rocks per quarter
  • Hit 80%+ of Rocks

The Weekly L10 Meeting

90 minutes, same agenda:

  • 5 min: Segue (good news)
  • 5 min: Scorecard review
  • 5 min: Rock review
  • 15 min: Customer/employee headlines
  • 60 min: IDS (solve top 3 issues)
  • 5 min: Conclude (recap, cascade, rating)

Rocks System

  • 3-7 priorities per quarter
  • Must be SMART goals
  • 80%+ completion rate
  • Company → Department → Individual

For Founders

  • Complete operating system
  • Proven in 1000s of companies
  • Simple, not complex
  • Creates clarity and accountability
  • Scalable from 10 to 1000+ employees

EOS Implementer

Many hire certified EOS Implementers to install the system.

Published by BenBella Books 2012. Part of EOS library. Over 1 million copies sold.

Reference

Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.

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