What the Heck Is EOS?: A Complete Guide for Employees in Companies Running on EOS

by Gino Wickman

WHY EOS? So, why this operating system? Because it works. More than 50,000 companies all over the world run on EOS. It’s a complete, simple, and powerful operating system. It helps companies grow to achieve their vision and goals more effectively. It also gives the employees of those companies a well-defined structure in which they can grow, feel more fulfilled in their work, and achieve their personal goals. It helps them feel more “in-the-know” about what’s going on. When you understand what the priorities of the company are, it helps you play your part in achieving them.

The 6 Key Components (Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction) are illustrated in the following EOS Model.

Have you ever been given direction from your manager only to be told something different by a leader from another department? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. This is a common problem in many organizations.

Do you manage projects in different ways? Do sales people enter orders in different ways? Do people take equipment or materials and then fail to replace them? Are you constantly chasing the same information each month? If so, this indicates a lack of standard processes. The Process Component creates, at a high level, a consistent way of doing all the company’s operations. It is basically a checklist.

You may be able to relate to that scenario. Now, picture an organization where projects get completed on time and people who commit to a deadline hit it. They don’t want to let one another down, so they put in the extra effort needed. Imagine if your meetings began and ended on time. What about a company where people don’t make excuses and unproductive people can’t hide, so they leave? Or, where everyone focuses on only a few priorities for the next 90 days—and those priorities are tied back to the company’s overall goals? Things just get done.

Rocks are 90-day priorities—the most important things you need to get done in the next 90 days. The weekly Level 10 Meeting lays down an agenda so you solve issues and stay connected as a team. These 2 tools help your company be more disciplined and execute better.

Your role is to set Rocks with your manager every quarter and to complete them on time. Your role is also to be fully engaged and actively participate in your weekly Level 10 Meetings by helping to identify and resolve issues.

8). Here is an example of the EOS