📘 Overview
Traction introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS) — a set of simple yet powerful tools and disciplines designed to help business leaders gain control of their company, improve alignment, and achieve growth.
EOS is built around six key components that every business must strengthen to gain traction — consistent execution and forward momentum.
🧱 The Six Key Components of EOS
1. Vision
- Get everyone in the organization 100% aligned with where the company is going and how it’s going to get there.
- Use the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO), which includes:
- Core values
- Core focus (mission and niche)
- 10-year target
- Marketing strategy
- 3-year picture
- 1-year plan
- Quarterly rocks (priorities)
- Issues list
“If you can’t clearly articulate your vision, how can others follow it?”
2. People
- The right people in the right seats.
- Two tools:
- People Analyzer: Evaluates employees based on core values.
- Accountability Chart: A clearer alternative to an org chart; shows major roles, not job titles.
Key idea: You need to surround yourself with people who share your values and can do the job well.
3. Data
- Run the business on objective numbers instead of gut feelings.
- Use a weekly scorecard with a handful of key metrics (5–15) to track performance and spot issues early.
“When everything is important, nothing is important.”
4. Issues
- Identify, discuss, and solve problems for good using the IDS process:
- Identify the root cause
- Discuss openly and honestly
- Solve with specific actions
Don’t let issues linger. Build a culture of addressing problems head-on.
5. Process
- Systemize the business by documenting the core processes that drive your operations (e.g., hiring, sales, customer service).
- Keep them simple and scalable.
- Ensure everyone follows the same steps, every time.
“Systemize the predictable so you can humanize the exceptional.”
6. Traction
- Bring discipline and accountability through quarterly rocks and meeting rhythms.
- Use the Level 10 Meeting™ format weekly:
- Segue
- Scorecard review
- Rock review
- Customer/employee headlines
- To-do list
- IDS (solving key issues)
- Conclude with rating the meeting
Traction is about execution — turning vision into reality.
🧰 Key EOS Tools
- Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO)
- People Analyzer
- Accountability Chart
- Scorecard
- Rocks
- Level 10 Meeting
- Issues Solving Track (IDS)
🧠 Core Philosophies in the Book
- Less is more: Focus on a few priorities rather than trying to do everything.
- Clarity is kindness: Be open and honest — with yourself and your team.
- Discipline = Freedom: A structured approach frees up energy and creativity.
✅ What You Get If You Implement EOS
- A clear vision shared by everyone
- A healthy, aligned, accountable leadership team
- A culture of solving issues quickly and permanently
- Measurable progress every quarter
- The ability to scale sustainably
📌 Traction vs. Other Business Books
While many books focus on vision, strategy, or inspiration, Traction is execution-focused. It is especially effective for:
- Growing small to mid-sized businesses (10–250 employees)
- Leaders looking to scale with systems
- Entrepreneurs tired of chaos and inconsistency
Burak Bakay 