Summary of "The Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO) Tool"

Summary: The Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO) Tool

This video outlines a disciplined framework designed to help leadership teams crystallize and align around a clear, shared vision for their company. Developed by EOS Worldwide and their founder Gina Wickman, the Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO) tool is built around eight essential questions that every leadership team must answer and agree upon to create organizational clarity and focus.

Framework: The Eight Essential Questions of the V/TO

Core Values
- Define 3 to 7 core characteristics that uniquely represent the company’s culture and leadership identity.
- Must have 100% agreement among the leadership team.
Core Focus
- Identify the company’s “sweet spot” or true core competency where the business excels.
- Leadership must avoid distractions or “shiny objects” outside this focus.
10-Year Target
- Set a long-term, overarching goal (typically 5-30 years, commonly 10 years).
- Provides a clear “finish line” that aligns the team’s efforts.
Marketing Strategy
- Define the ideal target market.
- Identify 3 unique selling propositions that differentiate the company.
- Outline the proven process for engaging customers.
- Specify a guaranteed pledge or promise that builds customer trust.
3-Year Picture
- Paint a detailed, measurable vision of the company’s state in 3 years.
- Include key metrics such as revenue, profit, and other measurable goals.
- Provide 5-15 descriptive bullet points outlining organizational attributes.
1-Year Plan
- Set specific revenue, profit, and measurable goals for the coming year.
- Identify 3 to 7 critical objectives (“must-dos”) to move toward the 3-year picture.
- Emphasizes prioritization and focus (“less is more”).
Quarterly Rocks
- Break down the 1-year plan into 3 to 7 key priorities for the next 90 days.
- These “rocks” are tactical steps that keep the team on track for annual and long-term goals.
Issues List
- Compile a candid list of obstacles, barriers, challenges, ideas, and opportunities.
- Encourages transparency and proactive problem-solving within the leadership team.

Key Operational Insights

Alignment and Agreement: The process requires 100% agreement from all leadership team members on every answer to ensure unified direction.
Focus and Discipline: The framework helps avoid distractions by clarifying core focus and limiting priorities to a manageable few at each planning horizon.
Measurable Goals: Emphasis on quantifiable targets at 1-year and 3-year intervals, including revenue and profit metrics, to track progress toward the 10-year vision.
Iterative Planning: The cascading structure from 10-year target down to quarterly rocks creates a clear line of sight from long-term vision to immediate action.
Transparency: The issues list promotes openness about challenges and opportunities, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Tool and Resources

The Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO) is a free, downloadable tool available at eosworldwide.com.
It provides a simple format to capture and communicate answers to the eight questions.
The V/TO has been used in over 150,000 sessions with tens of thousands of companies across industries.

Actionable Recommendations

Leadership teams should convene to collaboratively answer and agree on the eight questions.
Use the V/TO tool to document and share the vision and plans with the entire organization.
Regularly update quarterly rocks and issues to maintain focus and address challenges proactively.
Limit priorities to 3-7 items at each planning horizon to ensure clarity and execution capability.