4DX

4DX (the 4 Disciplines of Execution) is a framework for actually executing a small number of important goals, on top of the day-to-day “whirlwind” of urgent operational work that normally crowds them out.

The idea

The framework has four disciplines, meant to be applied in order.

1. Focus on the Wildly Important. Narrow to one or two goals (WIGs), instead of spreading effort across everything that matters.
2. Act on lead measures. Track the few actions that predictably drive the goal. Those lead measures are the ones you can influence day to day. A lag measure is the outcome.
3. Keep a compelling scoreboard. Make progress on the lead and lag measures visible to everyone, in a simple format people can check at a glance.
4. Create a cadence of accountability. Hold brief, regular meetings where each person reports on commitments made against the WIG and makes a new commitment for the next period.

When to use it

• A team has clear strategic priorities but keeps losing them to daily urgent work.
• Leadership wants a small number of goals executed reliably once they are chosen.

How to apply it

1. Pick one or two Wildly Important Goals. Resist the urge to add more.
2. Identify the lead measures that predict progress on each WIG.
3. Build a simple, visible scoreboard for both lead and lag measures.
4. Run short, regular accountability meetings focused only on the WIGs.

Watch out for

• Choosing too many WIGs, which defeats the point of focus.
• Tracking only lag measures, which can’t be acted on directly.
• Letting the accountability cadence slip once the initial push fades.

Related models

• Objectives and Key Results (OKRs). A related goal-tracking approach, with more emphasis on measurable key results.
• Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). Sets the ambitious target that 4DX then executes.
• Goal setting. The broader practice 4DX adds an execution layer to.

Sources

Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling, “The 4 Disciplines of Execution” (FranklinCovey).