Staying agile and focused is critical as companies look to grow and scale. Yet, many businesses find themselves stuck in outdated processes, struggling to align their teams, or needing help to maintain a clear vision for growth.
At my organization, we’ve recently begun implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), based on a series of books by Gino Wickman. Even at this early stage, we’re already seeing the impact of how this will guide our operation toward future growth and sustainability. Since we began the process, my leadership team and I have been singing the praises of the EOS benefits to anyone who will listen.
Regardless of the particular system you select, these benefits include:
Clarifying Vision and Goals: The first and arguably most important benefit is understanding where you’re going and how you’re going to get there. A structured operating system forces you to clarify your organization’s vision and long-term goals. As leaders, we often have a sense of where we want to go but lack a roadmap to communicate across the company. With a formal system, you must define what success looks like, both in the short and long term, articulate it in a way that everyone can understand and rally behind it, creating a sense of shared purpose and ownership toward the vision.
Improving Communication Across the Organization: Communication is the lifeblood of any organization, yet it’s easy for messages to get lost or distorted as they move through different levels of the company. An operating system provides structured, predictable forums for communication, ensuring that key messages reach every part of the organization. Weekly or quarterly meetings, scorecards and metrics keep the team focused on the most important issues. This consistency helps create a rhythm of accountability, enabling the entire team to stay aligned and reduces the chances of miscommunication.
Revealing Hidden Issues: Avoidance can be human nature. Without an operating system, issues can lurk beneath the surface, only becoming apparent when they cause significant problems. Formal operating systems require regular check-ins and honest assessments, which can bring hidden issues to light before they grow into major obstacles. This proactive problem-solving helps you tackle concerns early, keeping the organization on track and reducing costly disruptions.
Evaluating and Adjusting the Team: As your business grows, the needs of your team will inevitably evolve as well. As EOS says, a formal operating system creates a process for regularly evaluating whether you have the right people in the right seats. It offers a framework for implementing an aligned culture and core values, assessing performance, spotting gaps in skills or alignment, and making necessary adjustments to ensure the team is optimized for success.
The Bottom Line
Upgrading your business’s operating system is an investment in efficiency, alignment and long-term growth. It can be a hard process, requiring you to look at yourself as much as your operation. That said, by creating a framework that aligns your team around a shared vision, identifies and solves issues early, and ensures that you have the right people in place, you can unlock new levels of success. If you’ve been feeling like your business could run more smoothly, now might be the time to consider implementing an operating system. It could be the upgrade you need to reach your next milestone.
Jessica Sublett is CEO of Bounce Innovation Hub
