EOS Traction Tools: The IDS Process

One of the most important components within the EOS Meeting Pulse Traction tool is the “IDS” process.  IDS stands for “Identify-Discuss-Solve” and is a part of every one of the different Traction meetings within the Meeting Pulse framework.  Issues, according to Traction in the IDS context, are problems, challenges, obstacles, opportunities, or new ideas… all of which are important enough to demand your team’s attention every week throughout the year. These items can be good or bad, with some needing to be thoroughly discussed and resolved.  In this article, I walk through the IDS process step-by-step to help you understand how to be most successful at the IDS part of your weekly L10, quarterly check in meetings, and annual planning sessions.

The EOS Traction IDS Process

Step 1: Developing Your List of Issues

When you reach the IDS section of your meeting, you start by opening up the floor to anyone who has an IDS item they would like to add to the list. At this point in time, the individual adding an item to the IDS does not need to give a reason. They simply offer up the topic and the meeting’s Scribe adds it to the list. This continues until no one has anything to add.

The Scribe should also add any Scorecard items that have been red for two consecutive weeks. Those items get added without question!

Step 2: Prioritize the First Three Issues to Discuss

Next, the meeting Facilitator will select one meeting attendee to pick the first issue to be discussed from the IDS list. Then they will pick another attendee to select the second issue, followed by a third attendee picking the third issue.  Now you have your first three issues to discuss and solve!

Step 3: Identify

This is the first of three parts of the “IDS” process. Using the first item on the prioritized list, the meeting attendee who added the item will state the problem as clearly as possible.  Often the identified issue is not the real problem, so in this step in the IDS process it is very important to dig deep and make sure that the real issue is discovered. Once there is agreement that the real issue is identified, you move onto the next step.

Step 4: Discuss

Now you will take the item in Step 3 and have a completely open and honest discussion about the issue.  Every team member will share their thoughts, ideas, concerns, and solutions about the issue.  The issue gets discussed and debated until everything is on the top. Attendees should only state their points once, and nothing should be repeated.  If things start to get redundant, the Facilitator should drive the discussion to the next step in the process.

Step 5: Solve

This step in the process is all about agreeing on a plan that will make the issue go away forever. Traction states that it is more important that you decide than what you decide, so get to a decision! The solution should be stated over and over, each time with modifications until everyone agrees with the final version of the solution.  Once there is agreement among the team, action steps should be defined and clear, an owner needs to be selected, and any tasks that need to be done should be added to the To Do List.

Repeat the IDS Process for as many items as you can

Once that first IDS item has been solved, move onto the next prioritized item and repeat Steps 3-5.  Do this until your time is up or all the items on the IDS have been solved.  Any items that don’t get discussed should be carried over to the next meeting.

Important Things to Know About the IDS Process

• Not everyone on the team will agree on a solution 100% of the time, and that is okay. If someone does not agree, as long as they can live with the solution, that is enough to move forward in the process.

• When the team is really stuck, the Integrator needs to step in and make a final decision.

• Getting to a consensus never works, so don’t force it. Not everyone will agree, but as long as they have been heard and team health is good, those individuals can disagree and commit to the solution at the same time.

Final Thoughts on the EOS Traction IDS Process

The IDS process is not an easy one.  Like anything else you want to get good at, it requires practice.  I have seen teams struggle with the IDS part of Traction, but that is part of that learning and practicing process.  I recommend that your meeting facilitator take a few minutes at the end of the IDS section to get feedback from the team members to see how the IDS session went and recommendations to make it better for next time.