At BestNotes, our mission is simple: help the helper. We provide tools like EHRs and CRMs that give behavioral health providers the clarity and efficiency they need to focus on what really matters—helping people.
But here’s the truth: even the best tools won’t work if the business behind them feels chaotic or stuck. That’s where the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) comes in.
EOS is a simple, proven way to run your business so you get more of what you want. More clarity. More accountability. More traction toward the future you envision.
As Gino Wickman, creator of EOS, says in Traction: “Most people are sitting on the sidelines of the game of business. EOS gets your entire team on the field, running the same play, toward the same goal.”
The entrepreneurial operating system (EOS) is an operating structure organizations can implement to improve greater collective success by encouraging an entrepreneurial mindset in every employee while working together toward clear company goals. The EOS was developed by Gino Wickman, an entrepreneur and author who sought out innovative ways that businesses could build traction. The keys of success through the EOS focus on personal accountability throughout the company structure (but particularly among leadership) and creating and pursuing a cohesive vision.
The EOS Business Model and Framework
There are six key elements that characterize the EOS model. These are:
- People: It is vital that you surround yourself with the right talent and to ensure that existing employees are operating in the capacity where they will be most effective and successful. This relates to a core concept of EOS, often phrased as “right people, right seats.”
- Vision: This involves setting clear goals and KPIs, and ensuring that everyone in the organization is on the same page regarding long-term objectives.
- Data: Hard data can give you invaluable insights in many areas of business, notably what actions do and do not result in strong positive outcomes for your organization.
- Issues: Before you start making any big changes, you should identify notable areas of concern, determine strategies for dealing with these concerns, and ensure that everyone is trained on new workflows, as well as problem-solving skills and procedures.
- Traction: EOS is ultimately meant to guide action rather than remain an idea. As such, you should be focused on active implementation that can further establish your organization’s place in your market and start improving outcomes.
- Process: To make these new concepts a reality, you will have to outline clear processes and procedures related to the changes. You may also need to adjust these over time to fine-tune them for maximum efficiency and efficacy.
Each of these aspects should be seriously considered and regularly reviewed in order to maximize outcomes from implementing the EOS.
EOS Management Best Practices
Best practices that a management team should adhere to when implementing EOS should include:
- Accountability in action: Accountability should be made clear through the actions of management rather than just a word that is thrown around. Each person’s responsibilities and their role in larger workflows should be clearly defined.
- Clear communication: Not every organization’s implementation of EOS will look the same. It is important that management can communicate in concrete terms the changes that will be implemented in relation to EOS and address any questions or feedback that employees have.
- Clear objectives and expectations: Both the company’s long-term goals and employee’s short-term expectations should be very clear and concrete. When in doubt, assess these standards by determining whether they align with the “SMART goal” ideal: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound.
- Use of high-quality data: Data is a vital component of the EOS but it can hurt more than it helps if the data is poor quality. As such, it is important to be mindful of where you are getting your data from, what exactly you are measuring, and what metrics are being used.
The most important thing management can do to ensure that the EOS works for their business is to make sure that all employees understand the bottom line: what does this mean for me, and what does this mean for the company.
EOS Tools and Platforms
There are platforms specific to EOS implementation that can help guide both initial stages and ongoing management — notably EOS ONE. However, many other types of tools can help support this system in practice, such as task management platforms and Electronic Health Records. What tools will be most practical for your specific organization will depend on your unique needs and vision.
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“Tools work best when your business runs on a clear, accountable system. EOS helps your team move in the same direction.”
- Clarity on vision and priorities
- Accountability across the team
- Measurable traction, quarter after quarter
