Our quarterly leadership team offsites have turned into boring status update meetings where we just read through reports. How do we get back to using this time for high-level strategy?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The root cause is a lack of discipline around your preparation and your agenda structure. Your offsites must not be a multi-day version of your weekly Level 10 Meeting. When you use the Entrepreneurial Operating System, the quarterly offsite has a specific pulse designed to step back and look at the big picture.

To fix this, first mandate that all reporting, metrics, and Rock updates are submitted and reviewed prior to the offsite. Do not waste the first two hours of your day reading numbers that everyone should have looked at on the drive over.

Second, structure the day to focus heavily on the Issues Solving Session, using the IDS tool. At least half of your offsite should be dedicated to identifying, discussing, and solving the hard, systemic issues holding your company back.

Third, use the Kolbe A Index beforehand to understand how your team processes information. If you have a team high in Fact Finder energy, they will naturally want to dive into historical data. You must actively push them to transition from analyzing the past to designing the future.

Finally, ensure your Visionary and Integrator are aligned before the meeting. If the two leaders of the business are not on the same page regarding the vision and the major issues, the offsite will devolve into a chaotic debate. Clear the air beforehand so you can lead the rest of the team with confidence.