Why the State of the Company Is the Most Important 90 Minutes of Your Quarter

Written by Christine Watts • Published: October 29, 2025 • 6 Minute Read

Editor's Note: Christine is Ninety’s Chief of Staff and has guided thousands of businesses on how to build measurable, compounding results.

You can spend an entire day building a great Quarterly Plan, but if the rest of the company never hears it, you’ve only done half the work.

The State of the Company isn’t just a feel-good all-hands. It’s the final mile of your Quarterly Planning cycle. The moment where vision gets shared, priorities get real, and every person in the organization finds a reason to care. If you skip the State of the Company, don’t be surprised when your team can’t name a single Rock or priority for the quarter.

What Happens When Teams Don’t Hear the Vision?

A few years ago, I worked with a leadership team that had just finished an incredible Quarterly Planning session. They were energized. They had clarity on their Rocks. Their Scorecard was dialed in.

But no one told the rest of the company.

Three weeks later, I sat in on a department meeting where a frontline team member asked, “Do we know what the company’s focus is this quarter?”

They didn’t.

The leadership team had aligned, but the organization hadn’t. They skipped their State of the Company Meeting.

And they paid the price with mixed messages, misaligned efforts, and missed opportunities.

What Is the State of the Company?

The State of the Company is a quarterly, all-hands meeting where leadership shares the company’s vision, performance, and priorities for the next 90 days.

Think of it as the capstone of the Quarterly Rhythm — the moment where vision meets execution and every team member gets reconnected to the bigger picture.

Why Does the State of the Company Matter?

Here’s what happens when you do it right:

Clarity: People know what the priorities are — and why they matter.
Alignment: Teams and departments rally around the same Rocks.
Momentum: Celebrating wins builds energy that fuels execution.
Trust: Sharing challenges openly builds credibility from the top down.

If your Leadership Team is investing full days into Annual or Quarterly Planning, you owe it to your teams to share the output in a clear, inspiring way.

What’s the Agenda for a Great State of the Company?

Here’s a simple and proven format we coach teams to use. Plan for 60–90 minutes, and don’t skip the celebration.

Time	Section	What to Cover
5 min	Welcome & Purpose	Set the tone. Share why this meeting matters.
10–15 min	Celebrate Wins	Highlight big accomplishments and completed Rocks. Recognize individuals and teams.
15–20 min	Company Performance	Share Scorecard highlights: revenue, profit, key metrics. Keep it focused and high-level.
10–15 min	Revisit the Vision	Remind the team of the Core Values, Core Focus™, 10-Year Target™, and 3-Year Picture™.
10–15 min	Company Rocks	Reveal the top 3–7 Company Rocks for the quarter. Explain how they connect to the vision.
10–15 min	Department Rocks	Let department leaders share their Rocks and key initiatives. Tie it back to the company plan.
10–15 min	Q&A	Open the floor. Model transparency and open dialogue.
5 min	Wrap & Inspire	End with gratitude, clarity, and energy for the next 90 days.

When Should You Run the State of the Company?

Within two weeks after your Annual or Quarterly Planning session is ideal.

That gives departments time to align on their own Rocks, so by the time the company-wide meeting happens, everyone is ready to share — not just leadership.

What Should Happen After the Meeting?

Recap: Share a recording or written summary for those who missed it.
Reinforce: Department leaders should echo key messages in their team meetings.
Rhythm: Keep Rocks and measurables alive in weekly Level 10 Meetings™.

Key Principles to Follow Every Quarter

Consistency: Run it every quarter — no exceptions.
Transparency: Be honest about both wins and challenges.
Connection: Tie every priority back to the V/TO® and company vision.
Celebration: Recognize team members who are living the Core Values and getting it done.

One Company’s Turning Point

One client of mine had never held a State of the Company before implementing EOS®. After their first one, I asked the CEO how it felt. He said:

“I had no idea how much our people were craving clarity. That one meeting created more alignment than anything we’ve done in years.”

That’s the real ROI. One meeting. Four times a year. Whole-company alignment.

Ready to Build Trust and Traction Every Quarter?

Running a powerful State of the Company doesn’t require keynote-level polish — it requires clarity, intent, and a rhythm.

Ninety makes it easy to run a focused, transparent State of the Company meeting by giving every team member visibility into the vision, goals, and progress that matter most. With tools like the V/TO®, Scorecard™, and Rocks all in one place, leadership can communicate where you’re going the steps you'll take to get there, clearly and consistently.

It’s not just a meeting; it’s how you align the entire company around what’s working, what’s next, and what matters. Try running your State of the Company meeting in Ninety today!