What management methodologies/tools do you use?

professional profile

April 28, 2021

by a professional from Harvard University - Harvard Business School in Boston, MA, USA

I'm referring to management methodologies like Traction/EOS, Scaling Up, 4 Disciplines of Execution, OKRs, etc. -- I'm not referring to tech platforms like Trello, Asana, Basecamp, etc.

For Operators: I'm curious if you use any of the above to run your business -- For Searchers: I'm curious if you look for companies that have already implemented any of the above

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commentor profile
Reply by a searcher
from Harvard University in Fort Wayne, IN, USA
As Scott mentioned above, the best system is the one that you best stick to for the long haul. Most of those programs are 90% the same. The most successful businesses are ones who find one that they (mostly) all believe in and proceed to work the plan. The ones that have far less success are the ones where (usually) the owner or CEO reads a new book each quarter, gets super excited and forces everyone to read it, tries to get everyone to follow it, and then does it with a brand new model/book/article/idea the next quarter.

If you forced me to compare them, I’d say EOS is a simplified version Scaling Up and OKRs are more of an execution tool than a system to follow. If you buy a smaller company or less sophisticated business (one that’s never used a system like this before), EOS is probably a good place to start. If you are buying a bigger company, Scaling up is more strategic and flexible (which can be detrimental if your team isn’t ready for it yet). If there is significant resistance to any type of “system”, just start w/ some simple OKRs and evolve them as they’re ready.

Both EOS and Scaling Up have facilitators who I’ve heard are good. I’ve never used one (and most I’ve met aren’t worth the cost), but I’ve heard the best of them are excellent CEO coaches. I’d interview a few to learn about the system and their methodology, and then decide if the juice is worth the squeeze.
commentor profile
Reply by a professional
from Liberty University in Columbus, OH, USA
I think all of the ones you mentioned are excellent. EPI also has some very good Value Building systems (I too, am a CEPA).

I tell people that the one that works best is the one that they'll actually implement with a coach they like, trust, and believe will help them get results.

I settled on Value Builder (John Warrillow's program). It's probably the "lightest" of the mentioned systems, but here are a few of the reasons I chose it: the other systems listed require a heavy commitment of time and $, especially for companies that haven't done any type of Value Building in the past. The focus is almost exclusively on the 8 primary drivers of value. The system helps the business owner begin to ask the right questions, make micro commitments, and begin to build the foundation to where they can continue with the program, or now be in a much stronger position to step up to an EOS / Scaling Up or similar program.
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