We regularly have red metrics on our Level 10 Meeting™ Scorecard that never get dropped to the Issues List because the metric owner feels too embarrassed to highlight their own failure, and the rest of the team is too polite to call it out. How do we build the discipline to automatically push red scorecard metrics into IDS®?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If your team is avoiding dropping red metrics to the Issues List, you are suffering from false harmony. This behavior shields underperformance and leaves critical operational cracks unaddressed. You must establish a non-negotiable rule: if a metric is red, it automatically drops to the Issues List. There is no debate, no explanation, and no choice. During the five-minute Scorecard review, the facilitator must enforce this strictly. When a leader reads a red metric, they must state the number and immediately say, 'Drop it.' They are not allowed to explain why it was missed. The facilitator must instantly add the metric to the bottom of the Issues List. To remove the fear and embarrassment associated with red metrics, you must change how the team views the Issues List. It is not a list of personal failures; it is an operational diagnostic tool. Explain to the team that a red metric simply means the system is telling us something needs attention. Solving a red metric during IDS® is not about pointing fingers or assigning blame. It is about the leadership team working together to support the metric owner and clear the operational blockages. When the team experiences this supportive, problem-solving dynamic firsthand, their resistance to dropping red metrics will evaporate, and your Scorecard will become a powerful tool for driving operational improvement.