The Vision-Execution-Tracker (VET) Process

Our Simple Take on a Complex Process

We have reviewed all the methodologies out there, combined them with our own experiences, to develop our very own VET process.

The VET can help an organization CLARIFY, ALIGN, and EXECUTE - the three pillars of success.

Key Elements of the 2-Page VET

Vision / Purpose

This is the reason why a company exists. This is what makes us get up and run to work. It is a pithy phrase that speaks to the soul.

Some examples:

  • Disney: To make people happy.
  • Mary Kay: Empower Women.
  • Grameen Bank: Bank for the poor.
  • Apple: To put a dent in the universe.

These define who we are, how we choose to live and work together. These aren’t lines for inspirational posters to be hung up and forgotten; they are words we live by.

Explain our business in one line. Is this hard? For many, yes. Try it. People will give you a paragraph or two. It shows a lack of focus, an absence of clarity, and a propensity to chase shiny new green objects.

Some people use “Rocks” but we prefer OKRs, (Objectives & Key Results,) because they have greater numerical specificity. Here is a good example from the website What Matters.

OBJECTIVE: Win the Indy 500 (A BIG Goal)

KEY RESULTS:

  • KR1: Test at wind Tunnels 10 times

  • KR2: Reduce ave pit stop time by 1 second

  • KR3: Practice pit stops one hour per day

  • KR4: Reduce pit stop errors by 50%

  • KR5: Increase average lap speed by 2%

A business must dream big. It must also develop clear long-term metrics It is a strange fact of life: What gets measured, gets done!

We must always be aware of the challenges. No, they do not stop us. But by being cognizant of them, we can take the necessary actions at the right time.

VET screenshot

Why Only 2 Pages?

The answer is best illustrated by this Mark Twain Story.

Publisher’s Telegram:
"NEED 2-PAGE SHORT STORY TWO DAYS."

Twain replied:
"NO CAN DO 2 PAGES TWO DAYS. CAN DO 30 PAGES 2 DAYS. NEED 30 DAYS TO DO 2 PAGES."

Why are 2 pages so hard?

Because you have to lose the fluff and keep only the essentials. Leaders must know what is truly important. Once you complete your VET you’ll be astonished to find that you really can have all the important stuff on two pages.

Welcome to Focus-Town. Population: You.

Meeting screenshot

The Meeting Schedule

Annual Meeting: Focused on the long term. Developing / Revisiting the Vision, Values, and Annual OKRs.

Quarterly Meetings: These are focused on reviewing how well we did last quarter, discussing and solving issues, developing OKRs for the upcoming quarter, and examining issues like Key Processes, Accountability chart, and Team building.

Monthly: CEO updates / problem solving / mentoring as needed. Mid-Quarter: Pulse check-in with the team.

These meetings provide consistency by focusing on the process, thereby increasing the probability of delivering results.

How long should the VET process last?

The process never ends. It becomes part of the discipline and culture. It may evolve, but the muscles that have been built need to be continually exercised.

Also a facilitator provides an outside perspective that is hard to come by internally.

Use the facilitator for as long as the process works for you, and adds value to your company!

Sitting dude