“Hey, Mr. CEO, Does your team suffer from BSOS (Bright Shiny Object Syndrome)?”

It’s easy for Leadership Teams to get distracted when discussing new opportunities that suddenly “pop-up.” I witnessed this last week with a team that was adding to their annual goals – with 4 weeks left in the year!   In the land of EOS we call these “bright shiny objects.”  Remember Harry Potter’s Golden Snitch, that small golf ball shaped, golden orb that sped around the Quidditch field?   With blazing speed it erratically zoomed higher then lower, slower then faster, over then under – seeking always to avoid capture while keeping the players off-guard and off-balance.  Well, Leadership Teams have their own version of the Golden Snitch.  Does yours?  How about that new product idea that is irresistibly attractive, that new location that’s only available for 2 more days, that new merger opportunity into an industry in which your team has little or no experience and, more challenging, that “great” idea that you had over the weekend. Sound familiar?  If your team suffers from the “Bright Shiny Object” Syndrome (BSOS), it may be helpful to recall the famous dictum of Peter Schutz, celebrated CEO of Porsche AG, who championed an amazing turnaround of that automotive powerhouse in the 1980’s.   Mr. Schutz’s command to his Leadership Team was “Decide Democratically and Execute Dictatorially.”  He sought buy-in AND commitment to the team’s goals.  Rehashing prior decisions and chasing “bright shiny objects” were unproductive and resource draining.  Anything new that appeared on the horizon was simply placed on the list for future strategic discussion.  First, let’s execute on our existing plan!  

And, that’s exactly how it works in EOS.  Once established, goals and rocks are attacked aggressively and achieved.  EOS teams work diligently to stay focused and highly productive by not letting the BSOS take over their focused goals.  These teams are aware when a bright, shiny object appears and call them out. In doing so, Leadership Teams using EOS accomplish over 90% of their annual goals.  How about yours?