We have cascaded Level 10 Meetings down to our departmental teams, but critical issues solved at the departmental level are not bubbling up to the leadership team, leaving us in the dark on systemic issues. How do we bridge this communication gap?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Cascading Level 10 Meetings is essential for scale, but it often fails when there is no clear path for escalating issues to the leadership team. If departmental teams are solving problems that actually require leadership intervention, or if they are keeping systemic issues hidden, your operations will eventually stall.

To bridge this gap, you must establish a clear rule for when an issue must be escalated up the Accountability Chart. A departmental issue should be moved to the leadership Level 10 Meeting list in three specific scenarios:
- First, if solving the issue requires budget or resources beyond the department's authority.
- Second, if the issue directly impacts other departments and requires cross-functional alignment.
- Third, if the departmental team has tried to solve the issue during IDS for two consecutive weeks but has failed to find a lasting solution.

When these criteria are met, the department head is responsible for adding the issue to the leadership team's short-term Issues List before the leadership meeting begins. They must come prepared to explain what has already been tried and why leadership assistance is required. This keeps information flowing smoothly and ensures that your leadership team is focused on the problems that truly matter.