The Hard Part of Self-Implementing EOS®

Jay Tankersley spent 18 months trying to self-implement EOS. His team ran some of the tools, held meetings, and made slow progress. Then they hired an EOS Implementer®.

“We got more done in the next six months than we had in the previous eighteen,” Jay told me during our conversation on a recent episode of Impact Moments.

As CEO, Jay found it difficult to both facilitate and participate at the same time. When he asked questions, they came across to some people like directives. That made it harder for the team to have an open conversation and work collaboratively. The team was learning EOS, but they weren’t getting the full value from it.

I’ve seen similar patterns with leadership teams over the years. Self-implementation can absolutely work, but it requires more than running a Level 10 Meeting® and setting Rocks. It requires someone willing to champion the process, maintain the discipline, and keep the team focused when the work gets uncomfortable.

Jay’s story is a good reminder that the challenge of running on EOS is rarely the system itself, but also making hard decisions, being consistent, and continuing to have open communication.

Focus Points
“I found it really, really hard to facilitate and participate at the same time.” - Jay Tankersley

Can You Successfully Self-Implement EOS®?

Jay's experience is one version of a question I hear all the time: Can a leadership team successfully self-implement EOS?

The answer is yes, but successful self-implementation requires more than just learning the tools.

In my latest blog, I break down the patterns I've seen across hundreds of EOS session days, including the role of an internal champion, the discipline required to stay on process, and why so many teams stall when EOS starts exposing issues they've been avoiding.

On the Calendar
Events

If you’re working to get more out of EOS and Ninety, I recommend checking out our events page.

We’re constantly adding webinars, workshops, and partner events for teams that want practical support, not more theory. You’ll find sessions on Ninety basics, issues, To-Dos, EOS rollout, Great Boss® Workshops, and more.