When we get to the IDS portion of our Level 10 Meeting, our leaders tend to bring up issues that are actually just disguised informational updates or things they already solved, rather than real obstacles that require the team's help. How do we keep our Issues List clean and eliminate this conversational waste?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The IDS® portion of your Level 10 Meeting™ is designed for active problem-solving, not for showing off or seeking validation. When leaders put solved problems or disguised status updates on the Issues List, they are creating conversational waste that eats up valuable time. To stop this, the facilitator must act as a strict gatekeeper. Before the team begins discussing any item on the list, the facilitator should ask the owner of that item two simple questions: what is the actual issue, and what do you need from the team? If the leader responds that they just wanted to let everyone know about a change, or that they already handled a client complaint, the facilitator must immediately remove the item from the list. Informational updates belong in the Customer and Employee Headlines section, or better yet, in a weekly email. If an item does not require a decision, a brainstorm, or a clear action plan from the leadership team, it does not belong in IDS®. Keep your Issues List lean and focused only on the true, unresolved obstacles that are blocking your Rocks, dragging down your scorecard metrics, or threatening your core operational efficiency. This level of discipline ensures your ninety minutes are spent driving the business forward, not listening to historical reports.