Traction

Discover actionable frameworks to align your team, prioritise efforts, and drive sustainable business momentum.

Why you should read this book

Icon for video lessons

Learn compound growth (free module)

Most teams grind for growth, but the best ones systemise it. In this step, you’ll see why a structured approach always beats random tactics. You’ll follow Random Rick, Specialist Steve, and Solid Sarah to understand how a system-driven growth approach can double revenue without doubling workload.

Learn for free

Traction

book summary

Introduction

Traction introduces the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a comprehensive framework designed to help business leaders regain control, eliminate chaos, and build a scalable organisation. It tackles five common frustrations faced by entrepreneurs: lack of control, people issues, profitability struggles, hitting growth ceilings, and failure of past solutions. Wickman argues that by focusing on six key business components, leaders can create a self-sustaining organisation that operates smoothly and grows systematically.

The Six Key Components of EOS

  1. Vision A strong organisation starts with a clear vision that everyone shares. Leaders must articulate the company’s core values, focus, long-term goals, and marketing strategies using tools like the Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO). When everyone rows in the same direction, extraordinary results follow.
  2. People Great businesses require the right people in the right roles. Wickman’s “People Analyzer” tool helps evaluate whether employees align with the company’s core values and whether they “get, want, and have the capacity” to do their jobs effectively. Building a cohesive leadership team is critical to long-term success.
  3. Data Decision-making should rely on measurable data, not gut feelings or personalities. EOS encourages the use of scorecards with 5–15 key metrics to track weekly progress, identify issues early, and maintain organisational focus.
  4. Issues Successful companies address problems head-on. Wickman’s Issues Solving Track (IDS) provides a structured method to identify, discuss, and solve challenges at all levels of the organisation.
  5. Processes Standardising and documenting core processes creates consistency and scalability. By defining "your way" of doing business, you can streamline operations, improve efficiency, and ensure everyone follows the same steps.
  6. Traction Execution is where many businesses fail. EOS incorporates two tools to ensure traction: 90-day “Rocks” (prioritised goals for each quarter) and the “Meeting Pulse” system, which includes structured weekly meetings to maintain focus and accountability.

Core Tools and Strategies

  • Accountability Chart A functional organisational structure that outlines roles and responsibilities, eliminating confusion and redundancy.
  • Rocks Quarterly priorities that help the team focus on what truly matters for achieving the organisation’s long-term goals.
  • Level 10 Meetings Weekly structured meetings that keep the team aligned, productive, and problem-solving-oriented.

Key Takeaways

  1. Vision without traction is hallucination. Clearly define your goals and ensure every team member understands their role in achieving them.
  2. Focus on fewer priorities. Concentrate on strengthening the six key components instead of juggling endless tasks.
  3. Create systems, not dependencies. Build processes that allow your business to function independently of individual contributors.
  4. Empower people with clarity. Define expectations and accountabilities so every team member knows their purpose and impact.
  5. Consistency breeds results. Follow the EOS tools and frameworks consistently to see long-term improvements in your organisation.

Conclusion


Traction is not a theoretical guide but a practical toolkit for building a well-oiled, growth-oriented organisation. By implementing the EOS framework, leaders can achieve clarity, solve persistent issues, and develop the discipline required to grow their businesses sustainably. It’s a call to simplify, execute, and lead with focus.

Tool audit icon

No time for growth? Fix your operations first.

If your marketing and sales teams are too busy firefighting — fixing tools, chasing data, and dealing with messy handovers — you’ll never have time to focus on real growth. The Growth Operations Programme fixes your operations first, so you can finally work on scaling up.

Growth challenge

My review & thoughts

Similar books

Go to books
Scaling Up
Book summary & review

Scaling Up

Verne Harnish

Implement proven systems to scale your business efficiently while maintaining team alignment and focus.

About the author

Portrait Ewoud Uphof by Maikel Thijssen

Ewoud Uphof

Solid Growth helps B2B service companies scale — not with random tactics, but with clear systems that align marketing and sales into one predictable growth engine. Built on 13 years of hands-on experience — helping teams move from firefighting to predictable, repeatable revenue growth.

15 years experience

Student icon

1,500 marketers trained since 2015

Exited 6 companies

Who wrote this content?
No items found.
MiroMiro

Miro

Miro is a collaborative online whiteboard tool that enables teams to brainstorm, map workflows, and visualise ideas in real time.

HubSpot Marketing HubHubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot Marketing Hub

HubSpot Marketing Hub is a B2B marketing automation platform with CRM integration, powerful workflows, and multi-channel marketing tools for scalable growth.

Customer.ioCustomer.io

Customer.io

Customer.io is a flexible automation platform designed for precise segmentation and real-time messaging, ideal for B2B service businesses.

OmnisendOmnisend

Omnisend

Omnisend is an all-in-one marketing platform designed for e-commerce businesses. With powerful automation and seamless integrations, it helps businesses scale their email and SMS marketing efforts effortlessly.

More books

Go to books
No items found.

What we do

Better growth infrastructure

Free audit

Growth Machine Scan

Find and fix what’s slowing your team down. This free scan assesses your marketing, sales, and automation setup, giving you clear recommendations to improve efficiency and eliminate bottlenecks.

Identify the biggest blocker holding back your growth
Get personalised insights and actionable quick fixes
Option to book a free call for tailored tool stack advice

Growth Machine Programme

Free up a full day every week to focus on growth. We'll fix the systems, tools, and workflows holding your team back.

Better growth execution

Video course

Compound Growth Course

Master Compound Growth at your own pace—perfect for individual marketers and consultants who want a structured, repeatable way to grow.

Learn how to build a scalable growth system
Apply the four growth engines step by step
Create compounding revenue over time
Free audit

Growth Machine Scan

Find and fix what’s slowing your team down. This free scan assesses your marketing, sales, and automation setup, giving you clear recommendations to improve efficiency and eliminate bottlenecks.

Identify the biggest blocker holding back your growth
Get personalised insights and actionable quick fixes
Option to book a free call for tailored tool stack advice

Compound Growth Programme

A structured, hands-on programme designed for teams that want to fix bottlenecks, systemise execution, and scale growth predictably.

Book summary & review

Traction

Gino Wickman

Discover actionable frameworks to align your team, prioritise efforts, and drive sustainable business momentum.

Better growth infrastructure

No items found.
Free audit

Growth Machine Scan

Find and fix what’s slowing your team down. This free scan assesses your marketing, sales, and automation setup, giving you clear recommendations to improve efficiency and eliminate bottlenecks.

Identify the biggest blocker holding back your growth
Get personalised insights and actionable quick fixes
Option to book a free call for tailored tool stack advice

Growth Machine Programme

Free up a full day every week to focus on growth. We'll fix the systems, tools, and workflows holding your team back.

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.