In this article, you'll learn how to:

• Use Maz to create Rocks using the SMART methodology recommended by EOS® in 5-10 minutes.
• Align your Rocks with company goals and EOS® principles.
• Insert AI-generated Rock details directly from your conversation with Maz.

How to Create a SMART Rock with Maz (AI Assistance)

This AI-assisted feature is a collaborative experience. Throughout the process, Maz connects with your data in Ninety, asks you questions, and requests additional information as needed. 

You should expect to spend 5-10 minutes building a SMART Rock with milestones.

Your completed goal will move from the Maz chat window to a Rock in Ninety after you click the Insert Rock Details button, which appears at the end of this process.

You can get started with creating a new Rock from several areas of our platform. I'll cover each in the tabs below. 

Using the Create Button

To create a Rock with Maz from the create button:

1. Begin the new item flow. Click the Create button at the top right corner of the page. Then, select Rock from the Create dropdown, assign a user, and select a team from the Team dropdown.
2. Bring Maz into the conversation. Click Help me draft a SMART Rock (as shown in the image).
3. Build your Rock through a conversation with Maz. Answer each question with as much detail as possible, then press Enter or click the send icon. Continue the discussion with Maz until you're satisfied with the results.
4. Complete the process. Click Insert Rock details to populate the title, description, and milestones.

 Tip: This is a collaborative experience. You can request assistance or ask Maz questions anytime (such as, “What are our 1-year goals?").

 

 

From the Rocks Tool

You can use Maz to help you draft a SMART Rock when adding Rocks to a user's list in the Rocks tool. Here's how:

1. Navigate to the Rocks tool. Click Rocks from the left navigation and select the intended team from the Team dropdown.
2. Add a Rock to a user's list. Click Add Rock at the bottom of a team member's Rocks list.
3. Launch Maz's SMART Rock assistant feature. Click Help me draft a SMART Rock in the new row to launch Maz and begin the process.
4. Create your new SMART Rock. Answer each question with as much information as possible as Maz guides you through the Rock creation process. Continue the discussion with Maz until you're satisfied with the results. 
5. Complete the process. Click Insert Rock details to populate the title, description, and milestones.

 

 

How to Start a New Conversation with Maz

To start a new conversation, click the new chat button () and click through the confirmation to clear the chat history and start fresh. 

While starting a new conversation will delete the previous one, Maz will remember the ongoing discussion if you need to close it out or step away for any reason. If you exit the chat and return, you'll be prompted to continue the previous conversation or start a new one.

Video Overview

Watch the video below for a quick overview of the SMART Rock assistant feature by Maz, Ninety's AI companion.

What Are Rocks, and How Does Maz Help?

Rocks are the critical quarterly objectives your teams must complete to align with your annual goals and beyond.

We've written extensively about the proven methodologies for creating effective, business-advancing Rocks and why completing 100% of your Rocks is not a helpful benchmark. Instead, your teams should aim for a level of rigor in your goals to expect an 85% success rate (source). 

Learn more about our Rocks tool here.

To move beyond theory and into practice, we've trained Maz, Ninety's AI assistant, to guide you step-by-step through creating better Rocks that:

• Align with your Seat/team.
• Follow the SMART goal methodology.
• Improve clarity.
• Create momentum.

Aligning Your Rocks with Company Priorities

Individual Rocks should support your team's or company's Rocks. Before creating your Rocks with Maz, review your organization's quarterly priorities or discuss them with your team to ensure your goals contribute to the bigger picture.

For example, if a company Rock includes launching a new product line, your Rock might be to complete market research for product positioning or train 10 sales team members on new product features.

When to Use Maz in Your Rock Setting Process

Teams typically set Rocks before, during, or shortly after their Quarterly Planning Sessions. You can use Maz whenever works best for you and your team, including:

• Before your quarterly meeting. Draft initial Rock ideas to bring to the discussion.
• After identifying priorities. Once your team or your company's leadership team has agreed on Rock candidates, use Maz to create a Rock for yourself or a teammate.
• During a meeting. You can go through the Rock creation process with Maz during a meeting with a teammate to collaborate in real-time and ensure you have all the information you need.

In the EOS book How to Be a Great Boss, Gino Wickman recommends establishing Rocks (quarterly key priorities) “with your people, not for your people.” To accomplish this, he shares a five step Rock setting process that I'll summarize here:

1. Review the V/TO, including annual goals and quarterly priorities.
2. Reference your team's long-term Issues list.
3. Ask them, given the context of 1 and 2, what they see as essential to accomplish in the next 90 days.
4. Make the Rocks SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).
5. Verify the objectives laid out are clearly understood.

What Is Maz?

Maz is Ninety's AI-powered interface, which you can use to improve your experience with Ninety, access AI-assistance with tasks (such as creating Rocks), and more as we expand our roadmap.

Learn More

How Maz Helps You Build Rocks Using the EOS and SMART Methodologies

We trained Maz to help you build Rocks using a combination of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) and our own best practices. During the Rock creation process, Maz helps you align your Rock with one of the Six Key Components® to ensure it strengthens a core area of your business. 

Maz will help you use the SMART methodology to ensure your Rock is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely. At the end of the AI-assisted Rock creation process, you'll have a bulleted breakdown showing how the Rock adheres to the SMART methodology.

Learn more about how EOS recommends creating and completing Rocks here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Review some frequently asked questions about our AI Rock assistant below.

Do I have access to the AI Rock assistant?

All licensed users in companies subscribed to our Thrive plan have access to Maz's AI Rock assistant feature. If you don't have access, we'll let you know with an in-line message next to the Help me draft a SMART Rock button.