About GDD
What is GDD (Guide, Don't Drive)?
GDD is a leadership operating system - a structured methodology that installs governed behavior into leadership teams. It replaces hope-based leadership with a system of defined standards, weekly scoring, drift detection, and recovery protocols. GuideOS is the platform where GDD runs.
Is GDD leadership training?
No. Training teaches concepts. GDD is a Leadership Behavior Operating System that governs how leaders behave under pressure. It scores behavior weekly and recovers when it drifts. The difference is sustainability. GuideOS tracks and automates the entire process.
What makes GDD different from other leadership frameworks?
Most frameworks focus on assessment or content delivery. GDD installs a Leadership Behavior Operating System with weekly scoring, drift detection, and recovery protocols. It is not a leadership style, a personality model, or a mindset program. It governs how leaders behave when pressure hits. GuideOS is the platform that makes GDD executable.
What is the relationship between GDD and GuideOS?
GDD is the operating system - the methodology and discipline. GuideOS is the platform where GDD runs. Think of GDD as the playbook and GuideOS as the field where you execute it. You can learn GDD through Lowisz Leadership Institute, and you run it daily inside GuideOS.
Is GDD only for large enterprises?
No. GDD works for teams of 5 to enterprises of 5,000+. The Self-Led path serves individual leaders installing GDD on themselves first. The Team-Led path works for leadership teams of 5-50. Enterprise installation scales GDD across divisions with dedicated support.
Installation Process
How long does the GDD installation take?
The core GDD install is six structured sessions (the Six Installs), typically completed within 90 days. After installation, the Monday Morning Implementation (MMI) keeps the operating system running with a 15-minute weekly cadence - all managed through GuideOS.
What are the Six Installs?
Install 1: Clear Winning (establish the Score and Guardrail). Install 2: Identity Discipline (surface behavioral defaults under pressure). Install 3: Clear Ownership (replace driving behaviors with guiding behaviors). Install 4: Protected Standards (codify behavioral expectations that survive pressure). Install 5: Recovery Discipline (build structured recovery protocols). Install 6: Weekly Behavioral Governance (establish the MMI weekly cadence).
Do we need a facilitator to install GDD?
It depends on your path. The Self-Led path is designed for individual leaders to install GDD on themselves using the platform and resources. Team-Led and Enterprise installations benefit from a trained GDD facilitator who guides the sessions and ensures proper governance is established.
What happens after the 90-day installation?
GDD shifts from installation to ongoing governance. The Monday Morning Implementation (MMI) becomes your weekly behavioral cadence. Leaders score behavior against defined standards, surface drift, and recover - every Monday, indefinitely. The system is designed to be self-sustaining.
Do we need more meetings?
No. GDD replaces existing meeting behavior, not meeting volume. Same workload. Same meetings. Different behavior. The MMI replaces an existing check-in - it doesn't add one.
The MMI (Monday Morning Implementation)
What is the MMI?
The Monday Morning Implementation is the weekly 15-minute behavioral check-in that keeps the GDD operating system alive. Leaders score their behavior against defined standards, surface any drift from the previous week, and commit to specific recovery actions - all tracked in GuideOS.
What happens during an MMI session?
MMI follows a structured 6-step cadence: (1) Score review against defined standards, (2) Guardrail check for boundary compliance, (3) Leadership checks against behavioral expectations, (4) Drift identification where standards slipped, (5) Recovery protocol activation, and (6) Recommitment to specific behavior for the coming week.
How long does an MMI session take?
15 minutes. MMI is designed to be brief and disciplined - not a discussion forum. The structure prevents it from expanding into a full meeting. Score, surface drift, recover, recommit. That's it.
What if we miss an MMI session?
Missing MMI is itself a form of drift. The system is designed to surface this immediately. When MMI is skipped, tolerance expands silently and behavior begins to revert. GuideOS tracks MMI completion and alerts when sessions are missed.
Results and Expectations
What results should we expect from GDD?
Organizations typically see measurable behavioral change within 30 days, system-level consistency within 60 days, and sustained cultural transformation within 180 days. 98% behavior retention rate across teams that have installed GDD.
Will GDD feel uncomfortable at first?
Yes - and that's by design. The first 30 days are slower and more intentional. Defaults surface. Leaders feel the friction of governed behavior. This discomfort is a feature, not a bug. It means the system is working and revealing where behavior breaks under pressure.
How do you measure success with GDD?
Through the Score and Guardrail. The Score measures whether you won - did you hit the defined target? The Guardrail measures whether you won the right way - did behavior stay within defined boundaries? Both are tracked weekly in GuideOS with trend data and team visibility.
What if leaders resist GDD?
Resistance is expected and addressed through the installation process. GDD doesn't ask leaders to do more - it asks them to behave differently under pressure. The structured recovery protocol replaces blame with action, which reduces defensiveness. The system governs behavior through visibility, not punishment.
Platform and Pricing
What does the free tier include?
The free tier includes LifeBlend wellness tracking, personal wellness goals, 5 AI wellness tips per month, the GuideType leadership style assessment, and access to GuideConnect social network. It's designed for individual leaders who want to start their development journey.
How are company plans priced?
There is one GuideOS level and an assessment-only company option. By headcount (1–25, 26–50, 51–100, 101–250), GuideOS is $399, $599, $999, or $1,499 per month; assessment-only is $199, $299, $499, or $799 per month. Company plans require a 12-month commitment billed monthly and auto-renew annually until cancellation is scheduled. After the trial, cancellation takes effect at annual term end. A 25% veteran-owned company discount requires purchaser self-attestation and authority. GuideOS Individual is $99/month for personal use only, without company rights. Existing contracts are unaffected.
Can I try GuideOS before committing to a paid plan?
GuideOS company plans have a 7-day trial requiring a card. Cancel within 7 days for no charge; otherwise the annual commitment starts after the trial. The trial includes two assessment invitations total, choosing GuideProfile or GuideMind. Remaining plan access unlocks after the first successful payment. Assessment-only and individual plans have no trial. GuideType and GuideMirror remain free.
What are Assessment Credits?
GuideProfile is $79 and GuideMind is $79. Existing GuideProfile volume rates remain available. The $129 GuideProfile + GuideMind package adds two paid credits. Each unused purchased credit can fund either assessment, within its personal or company ownership scope, and expires 12 months after purchase. One package per order, with no bulk package discount. Free sponsored credits remain assessment-specific. GuideType and GuideMirror are free. Fees are non-refundable except as required by law.
Assessments
What assessments does GuideOS include?
GuideType and GuideMirror are free. GuideProfile and GuideMind can each use one unused purchased assessment credit or existing paid company assessment access. Personal and company credit ownership stay separate. Free sponsored credits remain assessment-specific. Company plans cover only the company's own employees and applicants, not resale or client companies. A purchase does not replace results-sharing consent or privacy permissions.
How are assessments used within GDD?
GuideProfile explores natural work drives through your answers to our questions. When leaders have completed the role expectations, compare those drives with what they expect to see where they align and where they differ. Part 2, when included, adds questions about recent GDD habits. Use the comparison alongside experience, skills and work examples, then agree on one action to practice.
How long does GuideMind take?
New GuideMind attempts have a 15-minute limit for all 26 reasoning questions and writing combined. The timer continues if you leave or refresh. When it expires, saved answers are retained and no remaining work can be submitted. The timed score is correct answers out of all 26 questions. Unanswered questions earn no points and are reported separately from incorrect answers. Existing attempts retain their saved timing and scoring rules.
What is in the current GuideProfile assessment?
Your leadership field guide. Explore nine natural work drives, including Pace, through 36 groups of three statements. Choose most and least like you in each group. When included, 28 habit ratings cover how often you acted in the last 30 days, including Own the Problem. About 12 minutes for the full profile (estimated). Preferences are not skills or predictions of performance.
How much time should I allow for GuideProfile?
Allow About 12 minutes (estimated) for the full Drives assessment or 36 choice groups · timing varies for Part 1 only. These are item-based planning estimates, not measured completion times. Candidate invitations may include Part 1 only.
What can GuideProfile tell me?
GuideProfile helps you understand natural work drives and, when leaders have completed the role expectations, see how those drives align with what they expect. Explore the matches, differences and areas to discuss together. Neither side of a drive is better. Use the comparison alongside experience, skills and work examples to inform role and development conversations, rather than as a guarantee of future performance. This is an early version. Its wording and scoring may be tuned as more people take it. Scores describe this version, not a rank against other people. Older results keep their original questionnaire and are not converted into Drives scores.
Technical and Security
Does GuideOS integrate with our existing tools?
Workshops, coaching, and custom integrations are separate engagements. Contact us to discuss integration requirements; they are not included by purchasing a company subscription.
Is GuideOS secure enough for enterprise use?
Review our Privacy Policy and assessment consent disclosures for data-use boundaries. Purchase does not change individual results-sharing permissions. Contact us for current security documentation and your organization's requirements.
SEE THE PLATFORM
See what GDD looks like in practice
GuideOS brings the GDD Operating System to life with dashboards for Score, Guardrail, team health, installation progress, and weekly MMI governance.
Leadership Dashboard
Week of Feb 24 - Mar 1, 2026
Target: 90
8 direct reports
2 in progress
Down from 5 last week
GDD Installation Progress
L2 of 4L1
Complete
L2
In Progress
L3
Locked
Upcoming
MMI Session
Mon 9:00 AM
1:1 with Sarah M.
Tue 2:00 PM
Guardrail Review
Wed 10:00 AM
Team Performance
View allSarah Mitchell
James Chen
Maria Rodriguez
David Park
The GuideOS leadership dashboard - GDD scores, team health, and installation progress at a glance