Traction (Traction Toolbox Part 6 of 8) - Where the Rubber Meets the Road

In this sixth part of our Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) overview, we turn to what Gino Wickman calls Traction—the discipline that transforms intention into execution.

     As a business coach, this component energizes me. It introduces accountability and consistent follow-through, which many organizations struggle to maintain. Teams often talk about getting focused, organized, and proactive—but those efforts rarely stick. Traction addresses this common breakdown by embedding habits that sustain progress.

     The first component of Traction are ROCKS – the priorities that matter.  Every 90 days, each team member commits to a few clear, measurable, non-negotiable priorities—what Wickman calls “rocks.” I first encountered this concept in Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Imagine a glass jar filled with large stones, gravel, sand, and water. The jar represents a fixed time period (like 90 days), and the large stones symbolize your most important goals. If you don’t place the big rocks in the jar first, they won’t fit later. The lesson is you must prioritize what matters most before filling your time with everything else.  Each quarter, individuals choose 3–7 rocks. These become their top priorities. Everything else is secondary.

The second component of traction is the MEETING PULSE, which is the rhythm of accountability anchored by a weekly Level 10 leadership meeting. Held at the same time and day each week, this 90-minute meeting follows a strict agenda, starts and ends on time, and focuses on identifying, discussing and solving issues. It also reinforces accountability to the scorecard, rocks, and weekly commitments.  Most importantly, specific tasks are assigned to leadership team individuals that will solve the problems.  These must be completed before the next level 10 meeting.  Why “Level 10”?  At the end of each meeting, participants rate it from 1 to 10. The goal is to consistently earn a 10—signaling high engagement and effectiveness. Beyond weekly meetings, the meeting pulse includes quarterly meetings to reset rocks and tackle long-term challenges. Once a year, they retreat to refresh the vision and plan for the year ahead.

Traction is built on common-sense practices that are too often overlooked: clear priorities, consistent problem-solving, and regular planning. When embraced, these habits create momentum that lasts.