Overview:
- Topic: Using an EOS Implementer vs. Self-Implementing
- Time: 10min
- Takeaway: You will go further, faster, with less frustration if you use an EOS Implementer!
- Tool: Three Assessment Tools to Evaluate where you are on your EOS Journey:
1) The Rocket Fuel Power Index (The Visionary & Integrator) *If you two are NOT on the same page, consider using an EOS Implementer to help you get and STAY on the same page!
2) The Team Health Pyramid (The Leadership Team) *You can also buy the book and do a free shorter assessment on pages 191-194 *If your Leadership Team is weak in any area, consider using a EOS Implementer to increase Team Health!
3) The Organizational Checkup (The Company) *If below an 80%, consider using an EOS Implementer!
- Tip: Consider what is at stake - time, energy, and impact! What is your time worth?
- Try: Commit to go all in with doing EOS right! Start with the 90-Minute Meeting with an EOS Implementer and then at least do the Focus Day Session! What do you have to lose? If you don’t get value, it’s FREE!
Introduction:
When your leadership team is ready to run on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), the first big decision is often this: Should we self-implement or hire an EOS Implementer?
Both paths can lead to meaningful change, but the choice you make will directly impact your ability to stay aligned, grow effectively, and overcome common bottlenecks, broken communication, and blurry processes. Let’s break this decision down by examining the WHAT, WHY, and HOW of EOS implementation.
WHAT: The EOS Process
EOS is a proven framework for clarifying your vision, building traction, and creating healthy teams. Whether self-implementing or hiring an Implementer, the proven process is the same:
Ramp-Up Mode (First 60 Days):
- The 90-Minute Meeting: Introduces EOS to your Leadership Team and sets expectations.
- Focus Day (6-8 hours): A full-day session to learn about the EOS Journey, create a common language around The Five Leadership Abilities, build your Accountability Chart?, set 90-day priorities (Rocks), learn and launch weekly Level 10 Meetings? and then build a "first cut" Scorecard.
- Vision Building Days 1 & 2 (6-8 hours each day): Two full-day sessions to complete your Vision/Traction Organizer? (V/TO?) by answering eight critical questions about your vision and strategy. You and your Leadership Team also develop Mastery of the Focus Day tools!
Execution Mode (Ongoing):
- Quarterly Pulsing (6-8 hours): Dedicated sessions every 90 days to review progress, solve major issues, and reset priorities.
- Annual Planning (2-day session): An intensive 2-day session to reflect on the past year and align the team for the year ahead. The heavy focus on day 1 is Team Health and Vision casting. The heavy focus for day 2 is creating Traction and solving the key issues!
Both approaches require a significant investment of time, energy, and discipline.
WHY: The Value of Hiring an EOS Implementer
When striving to reach a world-class level in any discipline, whether it’s becoming a PGA Tour golf expert or running a successful business, there’s a fundamental question to consider: Should you go it alone or enlist the help of a specialist? Let’s unpack why the specialist approach, particularly through an EOS Implementer, is not only the smarter but more effective path to business success.
The Specialist Advantage: What We Can Learn from World-Class Athletes
- Picture this: You’re training to become a world-class golfer. You’ve spent hours reading books, watching YouTube videos, and experimenting with different exercises. You’ve done a lot, but progress is slow and inconsistent. Now, compare that with hiring a strength and conditioning coach who specializes in training golf athletes and a golf coach who focuses on refining your swing. They both provide structured guidance, eliminate guesswork, and hold you accountable. The difference is night and day. The same logic applies to building a business with the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). The books are available. The resources exist online. But without expert guidance, the path is long and often frustrating. With an EOS Implementer, you bypass trial and error, focusing purely on execution with clarity and speed.
Why EOS Implementation Needs a Specialist
- An EOS Implementer is not just a general business coach. They are specialists who eat, live, and breathe EOS. Their role is multifaceted: they act as facilitators, teachers, and coaches. Here's how they help businesses succeed:
- Facilitator: They create space for the leadership team to have open, productive conversations while driving alignment. The wisdom is already in the room—an EOS Implementer draws it out by facilitating meaningful dialogue.
- Teacher: EOS has a set of proven tools, and an Implementer ensures they are taught purely and correctly. It’s not just about reading the books; it’s about understanding how to apply the tools effectively.
- Coach: As a coach, the Implementer helps the team stay focused, accountable, and resilient through obstacles. They challenge assumptions, ask powerful questions, and push for action without dictating the solutions.
- Question to you and your Leadership Team: Do you have someone on your team right now who eat, lives, and breathes EOS? Are they a qualified Facilitator, Teacher, and Coach? If not, how long would it take to train someone up to become those three roles? Count the cost.
Self-Implementation vs. Working with an Implementer
- If you choose to self-implement EOS, you’re essentially trying to be the coach, the quarterback, and the referee all at once. Here’s the reality: Time, Skill, & Experience are very important factors to take into consideration instead of just "cost" of paying on EOS Implementer.
- Time Commitment: To self-implement EOS successfully, you’ll need to dedicate 5 to 10 hours a week purely to studying the framework. EOS Implementers know the tools inside and out because they’ve spent years immersed in them. Do you want to dedicate that time to learning how to implement EOS effectively? Or would it be better use of your time to work in your business?
- Facilitation Skills: Knowing EOS isn’t enough. A skilled facilitator ensures that meetings stay on track, voices are heard, and team members remain aligned. EOS Implementers have training in managing group dynamics and creating a safe space for honesty. Do you want to have to wear multiple hats while implementing a full day session? It might get confusing, right? Your team is thinking, "Wait, is my boss talking to me as a Facilitator or as the Visionary?" Just keep it simple. Focus on being the Visionary. Let an outside expert facilitator take over on the session execution. You will get more out of it!
- Coaching Expertise: A good coach brings out the best in others by asking the right questions at the right time. This requires more than just knowledge—it takes training in listening, emotional intelligence, and understanding team dynamics. For example, I am an ICF-certified executive coach (ACC), which means I’m trained to unlock the wisdom already within the room without imposing answers. Most EOS Implementers bring business experience to the table, but not all bring professional coaching expertise. Being an EOS Implementer is about more than just teaching tools and running sessions—it’s about facilitating transformation within leadership teams. That’s where my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) sets me apart.
What It Takes to Earn an ACC Certification
- The ACC isn’t just a title—it’s a rigorous, internationally recognized coaching credential that proves a coach has been trained, tested, and assessed at a professional level. Earning this certification required:
- 60+ Hours of Formal Coaching Education
- 100+ Hours of Coaching Experience
- 10+ Hours of Mentor Coaching
- Passing a Performance Evaluation & Written Exam
How This Elevates My EOS Implementation
- Many business coaches and EOS Implementers rely on telling rather than coaching. But real leadership transformation doesn’t happen through advice alone—it happens when leaders are challenged to think differently, take ownership, and unlock solutions within themselves.
The Outside Perspective: Getting Out of the Bottle
- Imagine being stuck inside a bottle and trying to read the label. No matter how hard you try, you won’t see the full picture. An EOS Implementer is that outside perspective, helping you identify blind spots, bottlenecks, and unclear processes that you might miss. They expand your team’s awareness and guide you to solutions faster. Without them, your business might stay stuck in inefficient cycles of trial and error.
You Can’t Be the Player and the Coach
- In sports, the head coach designs the game plan, while the players execute on the field. If you try to be both the coach and the player, it leads to confusion. Which role are you playing at any given moment? The same issue arises with self-implementation. Without an Implementer, you’re constantly shifting hats—teaching the tools, facilitating meetings, and trying to lead your team through the process. It’s not impossible, but it’s slower and more frustrating. An Implementer allows you to stay in your lane as a participant, fully engaged in discussions without the burden of managing the process.
Key Questions to Ask Yourself
- Before choosing to self-implement EOS, ask yourself:
- 1) Do you have 5 to 10 hours per week to study and master EOS tools?
- 2) Can you or someone on your team facilitate meetings in a way that draws out honest conversations and ensures accountability?
- 3) Do you have coaching experience to ask powerful questions that guide the team without dictating answers?
- If you answered “no” to any of these questions, it’s worth considering an EOS Implementer.
What Makes an EOS Implementer Unique
- Unlike a consultant who tells you what to do, EOS Implementers operate as coaches. They guide by asking, not telling. They help you explore possibilities, expand your thinking, and execute on the right actions. This is critical because EOS isn’t about top-down direction—it’s about empowering your leadership team to take ownership.
1. Objectivity and Accountability
An EOS Implementer brings an unbiased, outside perspective:
- Identifies blind spots, challenges assumptions, and facilitates honest discussions that are difficult to navigate internally.
- Ensures consistent accountability, so the team doesn’t lose focus or skip steps.
The hardest part of the EOS process is staying accountable when you don’t have someone holding your feet to the fire!
2. Speed and Structure
Self-implementing EOS can be slow, as teams learn the tools while applying them. Implementers guide the process efficiently, ensuring you:
- Gain traction faster.
- Avoid common implementation pitfalls.
- Build momentum even when challenges arise.
Key Question: How much time and energy could you save with a guide who’s already walked this road hundreds of times?
3. Expertise and Proven Process
EOS Implementers often have decades of business experience. They bring:
- Real-world insights tailored to your industry.
- Deep expertise in diagnosing root issues and driving solutions.
- Mastery of the EOS tools, ensuring they’re used effectively.
Without this guidance, many teams stall, lose discipline, or fail to unlock the full potential of EOS.
Conclusion: Work Smarter, Not Harder
- Just like hiring a golf coach or strength trainer accelerates athletic performance, hiring an EOS Implementer accelerates business success. They bring expertise, outside perspective, and coaching skills that you can’t replicate through books or videos alone. By working with an Implementer, you ensure that EOS is implemented correctly, saving you time, frustration, and costly mistakes. If your goal is to run your business at a world-class level, why settle for trial and error when you could work smarter by hiring a specialist?
HOW: Should You Self-Implement or Hire an EOS Implementer?
If you’re familiar with EOS from Traction or What the Heck Is EOS?, it’s natural to consider self-implementation. Here’s what you need to weigh:
1. Time Commitment
- Self-implementation requires someone on your team to dedicate at least 10 hours per week to mastering and leading the process.
- Key Question: Who has the bandwidth to lead EOS while managing their day-to-day role?
2. Energy and Discipline
- EOS isn’t just a set of tools; it’s a mindset shift. Self-implementers often struggle with:
- Key Question: Are you ready to prioritize strategic work over day-to-day fires?
3. Financial Consideration
- Self-Implementation: Minimal upfront cost but higher risks of inefficiencies and slow progress.
- Hiring an Implementer: Most Implementers charge $3,500-$10,000 per Full Day Session. This includes structured sessions and between-session support. Also, the money is Guaranteed! Meaning - if you and your team don't get value from that session - it's free!
- Key Question: What’s the cost of leadership misalignment or missed opportunities over the next year?
Final Thoughts: Why Hiring an Implementer Is Often the Best Decision
For many teams, the true cost of self-implementation isn’t financial—it’s lost time, slower progress, and missed opportunities. Hiring an EOS Implementer provides:
- Objectivity: Uncover blind spots and challenge assumptions.
- Accountability: Keep the process on track, even when it’s uncomfortable.
- Speed and Structure: Avoid costly mistakes and gain traction faster.
Implementers offer not just facilitation but a fresh, objective perspective that uncovers problems business owners don’t even see
Challenge:
If you have never done a 90-Minute Meeting with an EOS Implementer - it is a great place to start! You will be able to talk with your Leadership Team about going all-in with EOS. You will have the opportunity to experience what having an EOS Implementer can bring to the table. You essentially can "test out" an Implementer ahead of time! You will have enough information to make a wise decision! As Peter Drucker says:
"When the facts become clear the decision jumps out."
Oh, and by the way, it’s free! The 90-Minute Meeting is a help-first session!
My challenge to you is this: reach out to me and let’s set up a 90-Minute Meeting with you and your Leadership Team to explore running on EOS!
Why Work with an EOS Implementer Instead of Self-Implementing?
Self-implementing EOS is possible, but it demands significant time, energy, and discipline—often at the cost of lost momentum and slower results. Many leadership teams run into obstacles, have unanswered questions, and struggle to apply the EOS Toolbox effectively. If you want to go faster, further, with less frustration, start with an EOS Implementer with the FREE 90 Min Meeting!
An EOS Implementer brings objectivity, accountability, and expertise to fast-track your success, ensuring your team stays focused and aligned. The real cost of self-implementation isn’t money—it’s lost time, slower progress, and missed opportunities.
Key Benefits of Hiring an Implementer:
- Faster Implementation, Better Results – Avoid the frustration of learning and executing at the same time. An experienced Implementer streamlines the process and drives real traction.
- Objective Outside Perspective – Leaders often can’t see their own blind spots. An Implementer helps uncover hidden barriers and provides actionable solutions.
- Focus on Your Strengths – As the Visionary, your time is best spent leading. Let an expert guide EOS so you can focus on what you do best.
- Accountability & Commitment – Like a coach or personal trainer, an Implementer holds you accountable, ensuring follow-through and long-term success.
A free 90-Minute Meeting is the best way to see if working with an EOS Implementer is right for you.
Ready to gain clarity and traction? Let’s connect. Together, we’ll make your EOS journey impactful and sustainable.
