Inside the EOS Toolbox: The Six Key Components of a Thriving Practice
If you've ever run your practice without clear structure, you know the feeling — like you're stacking a house of cards and hoping it holds. That feeling of constant reaction, disjointed communication, and just “doing what needs to get done” without a long-term view? That’s what EOS helps fix.
EOS (short for Entrepreneurial Operating System), developed by Gino Wickman, gives you the blueprint to get your shit together — and keep it that way. It breaks business structure into six core components that actually make sense and actually work: Vision, People, Data, Issues, Process, and Traction. Here’s a quick breakdown of what they are and why they matter.
Vision: Where the Hell Are We Going?
Your vision is the roadmap. It's your values, your purpose, your long-term goals, and the clear path to get there. EOS uses something called the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) to help you wrangle all that into two tidy pages that your whole team can rally behind. Clarity is kind, chaos is not.
People: Right People. Right Seats. Period.
You can’t scale a thriving practice with the wrong people. This component is about culture fit (right people) and role clarity (right seats). The People Analyzer is the tool here — it helps you assess who’s aligned with your values and who’s built to actually do the job they’re in. Spoiler: underperformance often comes down to this.
Data: Numbers Don’t Lie (Even When You Want Them To)
You need numbers that tell you what’s really going on. Enter: the Scorecard. It gives you 5–8 weekly metrics to track so you stop relying on vibes and gut feelings to run your practice. Data isn’t cold. It’s clarity.
Issues: Stop Bandaiding. Start Solving.
This is my favorite part of EOS, hands down. The Issues List plus IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) teaches you how to solve real problems — not just duct tape them. 60 minutes of your weekly leadership meeting is spent doing just this. Get in, solve the problem, get out. It’s wildly satisfying.
Process: Fewer Fires. More Flow.
Processes are the repeatable systems that make your practice run. EOS focuses on documenting just the critical 20% that gets you 80% of the result. No bloated SOP manuals — just lean, functional guides that keep people from making shit up on the fly.
Traction: Make the Vision Real
This is where everything comes together. Regular L10 meetings, scorecard reviews, to-dos, and quarterly rocks create the rhythm that turns big ideas into consistent action. This is where vision gets legs.
What Next?
Score yourself on all six components. Where are you strong? Where are things starting to wobble? Even if you're not officially running on EOS, these areas are already operating in your business — the only question is whether they're working for you or against you.
If some of these feel off, that’s exactly why I created the EOS Mastermind. It’s a six-month, cohort-based program that helps group practice leaders implement EOS in a way that’s real, sustainable, and actually works.
👉 Join the EOS Mastermind Waitlist (Doors Close June 2)
🎧 Listen to the Full Episode on the Six EOS Components
About the Author
Dr. Tara Vossenkemper is a gently-candid consultant who’s been in the trenches of group practice ownership since 2017. With a hearty blend of depth, irreverence, and a solid dash of humor (or so she hopes), Tara helps practice owners navigate the can-be-messy process of hiring, culture-building, vision generating, people-y issues, and all the other things that keep you up at night. When she’s not consulting, she’s probably wrangling her animals or homeschooling her kids—because why not add more chaos to the mix?
Ready to dive deeper into practice culture? Join the membership and get access to the tools and insights that make thriving, sustainable practices more than just a pipe dream.
