It turns out that I was very wrong when I assumed that EOS was a type of lip balm. So, if you have been hearing references to “EOS” buzzing around and don’t know what it means…you are not alone, my friend. I’m here today to give you the lowdown so you don’t have to feel out of the loop like I did. You’re welcome!
EOS stands for Entrepreneurial Operating System. It helps to think of your business as a computer. Just like a computer, it runs multiple processes every day to keep your system running and all the parts have to work together to ensure those processes run smoothly. Without an efficient operating system (OS), you simply won’t be as productive.
What exactly is Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS)?
The Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is a set of business concepts and tools designed to optimize your productivity. Just like you would install an update to make your computer run smoother, EOS will help your leadership crew and team working together to make your business run smoother.
It’s similar to lean manufacturing, except it focuses on the overall organization of your business rather than your manufacturing processes specifically.
EOS is ideal for businesses between 10 and 250 employees that feel like they’ve hit a ceiling. If your operation has become stagnant, flat and even stuck, EOS could be the solution to help kick your operation into four-wheel drive and take your countertop fabrication operation to the next, more efficient (maybe even better?) level.
The core components of EOS
There are different components of your business that keep things moving. EOS outlines six core components that businesses should focus on to make sure these things are moving as productively as possible:
1. Vision
Where is your business going? Creating a clear vision, outlining a path to achieve that vision, and getting everyone at your countertop fabrication business 100% on board is essential for growth and getting yourself “unstuck.”
2. People
What would business be without people!? Putting the right people in the right roles is the only way to ensure every process runs smoothly and efficiently.
3. Data
There should be no guesswork when it comes to your business. Sometimes businesses can get stuck in old beliefs or face resistance to change that could improve life for everyone. By focusing on gathering the right data to make the best decisions and keep your finger on the pulse of your operation, you’ll be able to make more informed decisions for the direction of the company.
4. Issues
Even in the world of computers, there’s no such thing as completely smooth operation (just ask anyone with a printer). There will always be issues, and the way you identify and solve those issues are paramount to developing an efficient countertop business.
5. Process
As folks who talk daily to fabricators looking to organize their current processes with software, we see how easy it is to get lost in the sauce here. When things get too complicated, it leaves way too much room for mistakes to be made. Define clear processes and systemize your operations to make them more effective, efficient, manageable, and even more fun. Ultimately, that’s how you become more profitable.
6. Traction
In the world of EOS, traction is just a fancy word for execution. You have all the ideas from the other core components. Now it’s time to put them into action! Turn your vision into reality with discipline and accountability at every level and step. You need great traction if you want to get unstuck.
When you have all these components down, you are unstoppable. And very impressive to boot!
Benefits it can bring to your countertop business
The benefits of successful EOS implementation are simple: efficiency and growth. How many times have you wanted to throw your printer or computer out the window because it wasn’t working properly? The same idea goes for your business.
If your business doesn’t have its operating system updated regularly, it’ll get slow and inefficient. Keeping your Entrepreneurial Operating System up to date is the key to sustainable business growth.
Tips for smooth implementation
Let’s face it…Change is always necessary, but it’s never easy. Implementing a completely new operational structure is going to be a challenge. But, you’ll love the results it can bring to your business.
To help you start your EOS journey, here are a few tips to help you “install your update.”
Prepare for a challenge
Be prepared for what you’re going up against. That’s the first step. Play the Rocky theme song, give yourself a pep talk in the mirror each morning, do whatever you need to get amped up for this challenge. If you accept that you’ll have to put in the work and hours, you’ll be more prepared when issues arise. Don’t forget to bring that good attitude!
Understand what you need to do
You can’t take the next step in your journey if you don’t know where you’re going. You know how your computer shows a blank screen for a few minutes while it’s updating? That’s because it can’t focus on what it needs to do while you’re browsing Amazon for your next impulse purchase.
If you want to grow, invest some time to come up with a plan so that you understand what everyone needs to do. You might not be as productive in that time, but it’ll be worth it. You can work toward your goals more efficiently after.
Personally, I’m a big checklist gal myself. Helps me organize and prioritize. Am I getting work done while I’m making the checklist? No. But, I am going to produce work much more efficiently once I do because I have a strategy. So, if it saves me time in the long run, I’d say it’s pretty darn worth it!
Set clear roles and responsibilities
Create a structure of roles and responsibilities in your company. Make sure everyone understands their part and is accountable for what they need to do. As an employee myself, I cannot stress this enough. Your team needs to know what is expected of them and whether or not they are meeting those expectations. And it needs to be as clear as day.
Without clear roles and responsibilities, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. It’s a good idea to build an Accountability Chart to make sure everyone knows their role — and the roles of others. It’ll make EOS implementation go a lot more smoothly and make your operation as a whole more efficient.
Delegate, delegate, and delegate some more
Your business won’t run efficiently if one person is in charge of everything. You might be an absolute superstar, but there’s likely someone in your operation who’s better than you at certain tasks (impossible, I know…). Or, they just might have more time in their schedule to devote to these tasks.
Delegating some authority and responsibility is the best way to take a big challenge like implementing EOS practices and break it into smaller, more manageable parts.
Systemize the predictable
EOS founder Gino Wickman always likes to say, “Systemize the predictable, so you can humanize the exceptional.” Core processes in your operation that you do over and over day in and day out are ideal for systemization. You already know exactly what’s going to happen, so just create a plan to deal with it and put it on paper for everyone to see.
It might sound boring to create a bunch of SOPs and documents, but this is a great way to optimize efficiency, reduce reworks, and ensure consistent quality in your work.
As for the second part of the quote, once you standardize the predictable, you’ll have more time to focus on the human aspect of business, like talking to customers, connecting with your team, identifying new areas of expansion, and all the other parts of your business that require a creative human touch. You know, the stuff that sets your business apart!
Make your operation run like a well-oiled… computer
Imagine your business like a CNC machine. Yes, there are plenty of physical mechanical parts that handle the slab and cut the stone, but what good are they if they don’t have an efficient computer system backing it up?
The manufacturing processes at your countertop shop are like the machine. They take the stone and turn it into a usable piece for your customers. However, that machine is useless unless it has an up-to-date operating system behind it.
With a little planning and hard work, you can update your operation to run EOS and take your business to the next level.
And can I just say that I love how often “Systemize” is used in the EOS philosophy. If you’re looking to start organizing your processes and don’t know where to start – we’ve got a pretty great software that can help you get started.
