How to Fix the Traction® Gap: Integrating OKRs with EOS® for Better Execution

A few years ago, we hired a fractional CMO who was truly data driven. One of his expressions was, "Data is our editor." When OKRs aren't connected to an operating system, I agree they can give us some guidance, but unlike a great editor, they lack the whole the story.

OKRs give you clarity around outcomes, but they don’t define the structure, meeting cadence, or problem-solving process you need to keep those outcomes at the center of the work. Without that foundation, organizations struggle with missed targets, inconsistent accountability, and leadership discussions that are more reactive than strategic.

The fact is, even the best plans face unexpected shifts. OKRs help you articulate what you want to achieve, but they don’t provide a reliable way to run the business when changes and obstacles arise. The issue isn’t the OKRs themselves. It’s the expectation that a goal-setting framework can also serve as a full operating system.

This is where EOS® comes in. Not as a replacement for OKRs, but as the system that provides the consistency, cadence, and clarity you need to regain control. Let’s explore how combining OKRs with EOS helps teams build the structure they need to actually achieve the goals they set.

Why OKRs Still Need an Operating System

Many leadership teams adopt OKRs because they want more clarity, alignment, and accountability. Those benefits are real, and many teams have found success with OKRs. That said, OKRs typically focus on what you want to achieve, not how your organization runs day to day.

When a team treats OKRs as its core operating system, gaps start to show up quickly. Teams may agree on the outcomes but still disagree on the details that go along with them, like priorities, responsibilities, capacity, and the actual path toward achieving results.

This lack of structure is where execution starts to break down. Without a consistent weekly rhythm, OKRs fade into the background as soon as urgent work takes over. That’s why having an operating system matters.

Without an Accountability Chart, ownership is unclear and key results lose momentum. And without a standard process for raising and resolving issues, problems don’t get solved — they just get bigger. Leaders expect OKRs to create control, but the gap between goals and execution only grows without a business operating system to support them.

EOS Can Help You Regain Control

If OKRs clarify what you want to achieve, EOS clarifies how you run the business to achieve those goals. It brings order to daily work by giving teams a clear structure, consistent processes, and a shared way to prioritize work. This is often what’s missing when organizations rely on OKRs alone.

EOS restores control through a set of simple, practical tools, including:

• Vision/Traction Organizer® (V/TO®): Connects quarterly goals to long-term direction so OKRs stay aligned with the business strategy.
• The Accountability Chart®: Defines roles and responsibilities, making ownership of OKRs unmistakably clear.
• Scorecard: Provides a weekly view of organizational health through key measurable numbers tied to OKRs.
• Identify, Discuss, Solve (IDS®): Ensures issues affecting OKR progress are addressed quickly and consistently.
• Level 10 Meetings: Creates a dependable weekly check-in where progress is reviewed, priorities are confirmed, and issues are resolved.

With these tools in place, your teams are no longer working toward goals without structure. Instead, they’re running an operating system that brings clarity, visibility, and discipline to the work that needs to get done. And that’s how you make those goals a reality.

How OKRs Work Together with EOS to Strengthen Execution

When teams use OKRs inside EOS, they get the benefit of clear goals along with a system that helps them follow through on those goals. OKRs don’t replace EOS tools (or the other way around). They enhance one another.

Here are five simple ways OKRs work inside EOS to create more consistency and get your team better results:

1. OKRs map naturally to EOS Rocks: Your most important objectives can become quarterly Rocks. The key results associated with each objective serve as milestones or measurables to track progress throughout the 90 days.
2. Ownership becomes clear through The Accountability Chart®: Each OKR-aligned Rock is assigned to a specific Seat so there’s no confusion about who is responsible for achieving the result.
3. Progress becomes visible through weekly Scorecards: Instead of waiting for a quarterly check-in, key results show up as weekly measurables, allowing the team to spot issues early and adjust before they become larger problems.
4. The Level 10 Meeting provides the rhythm OKRs lack: Every week, teams meet to review Scorecards, check in on Rocks, and raise issues that need attention. OKRs stay connected to daily operations, not just planning sessions.
5. The V/TO anchors OKRs to long-term strategy: Objectives stay aligned with the bigger picture. They connect to the 1-Year Plan, contribute to the 3-Year Picture, and reinforce the company’s Core Focus.

When OKRs live inside EOS, your team gains the consistency, transparency, and cadence it needs to maintain control throughout the quarter. Instead of relying on OKRs as a system, use EOS as the system and OKRs as your goal-setting method within it.

Why Ninety Helps You Close the Traction Gap

Ninety brings all of this together in one platform. Instead of juggling spreadsheets, dashboards, and multiple tools, you can run your operating system and goal-setting framework in the same place. Everything you need to keep OKRs connected to EOS lives in a single, consistent workflow.

Ninety allows teams to:

• Turn OKRs into quarterly Rocks
• Break Rocks into milestones that mirror key results
• Track progress in weekly Scorecards
• Run Level 10 Meetings with real-time data
• Connect every Rock back to the V/TO
• Keep issues visible so you can IDS them consistently

Having a single source of truth like Ninety is what restores control and helps you execute better. Everyone on the team can see who owns what, how the team is performing, and where to focus next.

Achieve Real Traction with OKRs Powered by EOS

If your team is setting thoughtful OKRs but still feels out of control a few weeks into the quarter, you may be missing the operating system that keeps those goals connected to the day-to-day work. OKRs define the outcomes you want, and EOS gives you the structure to achieve them.

When you combine them, you turn goals into tools that guide decisions, clarify ownership, and keep priorities moving forward week after week. That’s how teams regain control, close the Traction Gap, and build a business where execution is consistent and goals turn into real progress.

Want to see how OKRs and EOS work together inside Ninety? Start building a stronger foundation for your team now.