As our leadership team grows, we are experiencing alignment issues where team members are secretly lobbying the Visionary for resources outside of our quarterly planning sessions. How do we use the EOS® weekly and quarterly pulse to eliminate back-channel lobbying and maintain unity?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Back-channel lobbying is a destructive habit that erodes trust, bypasses the Integrator, and undermines the Accountability Chart™. It typically happens when team members feel that the formal planning process is too slow or that they can get a faster yes by going directly to the Visionary.

To eliminate this behavior, the Visionary and Integrator must present a completely united front. When a leader approaches the Visionary to request resources or pitch a new initiative, the Visionary must redirect them. The only acceptable response is to instruct them to add the item to the Issues List for the next Level 10 Meeting™ or quarterly planning session.

By refusing to make decisions in isolation, the Visionary forces the team to use the established EOS® communication channels. Every major resource request or project proposal must go through the weekly or quarterly pulse where the entire leadership team can evaluate it objectively.

This ensures that resources are allocated based on the priorities in the V/TO® rather than who lobbies the loudest. It also reinforces the Integrator's authority to run the business. When the team realizes that lobbying does not work, they will stop trying and commit to the disciplined planning processes that keep the organization aligned.