Ep. 44 - One Year Check-In: Is EOS Worth It?

Looking to level up your firm? There are lots of programs out there to help small businesses create better internal systems, and Marc Whitehead & Associates uses EOS, or the Entrepreneurial Operating System. After one year of EOS, Marc and Diana give their review of EOS’s top benefits and surprises, as well as the issues EOS was not able to fix. Tune in to find out what to expect from EOS, how to make the most of it, and whether it is the right fit for your firm. 

For detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[0:00] Introduction

[1:17] Marc and Diana recently returned from their EOS retreat, where they spent the first day on teambuilding and the second day on more actionable items for improvement. 

[3:01] EOS stands for the Entrepreneurial Operating System, and it is designed to take small businesses to the next level through leadership development, communication, and behavioral changes. 

[11:02] Having a neutral set of eyes without an agenda was a big help for Marc Whitehead & Associates. You can find local EOS implementers, though they do tend to be expensive. 

[16:23] Marc was a guest on Ruby Powers’s podcast Power Up Your Practice last week. You can listen to the episode here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-60-behind-the-mic-and-the-practice-lessons/id1727939889?i=1000705463147 

[18:42] Marc was surprised by how quickly his leadership team took to EOS. People who did not have as much structure were quick to embrace EOS, while others who were already structured were more resistant. Diana was surprised at how well the rest of the team took to level 10 meetings.

[23:26] EOS provided a mechanism to disseminate new ideas to the rest of the firm through department-level meetings. 

[26:30] Marc considers the issue-processing part of EOS the biggest win for the firm. EOS requires that all issues be processed by the end of each Level 10 meeting.

[32:10] One thing EOS has not done for Marc Whithead & Associates is build trust. Difficult personality conflicts or pervasive distrust will not be solved by EOS.

[34:22] Marc’s only regret with EOS is not starting sooner, specifically around 2020.

[37:49] Over the next year, Marc sees the firm’s “rocks” becoming more focused on big changes that move the needle instead of putting out fires.

[39:31] Marc wishes he knew that it would take a full year to put out all of the small fires in the firm and start focusing on big-picture goals. 

[41:15] Diana was surprised by how important the visionary-integrator relationship is. Marc ads that you should not do EOS if there is not consensus around who the integrator will be. 

Visit the Successful Barrister website: https://www.successfulbarrister.com/  

Visit the Marc Whitehead & Associates website: https://disabilitydenials.com/ 

Email Marc Whitehead for his full list of favorite books: marc@marcwhitehead.com 

Listen to Marc on the Power Up Your Practice Podcast with Ruby Powers: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-60-behind-the-mic-and-the-practice-lessons/id1727939889?i=1000705463147