In our virtual Level 10 Meetings, I can tell my leadership team members are constantly multitasking, answering Slack messages, or checking emails on their other screens. How do we eliminate this second-screen distraction and keep everyone fully engaged remotely?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Multitasking during a Level 10 Meeting is a silent killer of productivity. In a virtual environment, it is incredibly easy for leaders to drift, check emails, or respond to instant messages, especially during the scorecard or rock review. This destroys the focus required for high-level problem-solving.

First, you must establish a strict "one-screen, cameras-on" policy. Everyone must be visible on camera, positioned so you can see their face and hands. If someone is looking down or their eyes are constantly darting to another screen, they are distracted.

Second, ban the use of internal chat tools like Slack or Teams during the ninety minutes. Put all notifications on do-not-disturb mode.

Third, change your facilitation style. In a physical room, energy flows naturally. In a virtual meeting, the facilitator must work harder to keep the momentum. Do not let one person monopolize the screen share or the conversation. Rotate who reads the scorecard metrics or who presents specific issues.

Finally, make sure everyone is actively taking notes and dropping issues to the list. When people are actively contributing to the software or document you use to track your agenda, they do not have time to check email. If a leader cannot stay focused for ninety minutes once a week, they are failing to respect their peers and the meeting pulse.