I am planning to exit my business in a year and have checked out of the day-to-day, but my passive presence in our Level 10 Meetings™ is killing the team's urgency and focus. How do I participate without bringing down the energy of the room?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Your leadership team takes their cues from you. If you show up to the Level 10 Meeting™ looking bored, checking your phone, or mentally checked out, your team will match that low energy. This is a common trap for founders preparing for an exit.

You have two options: either engage fully with a specific purpose or step out of the meeting entirely.

If you choose to stay in the meeting, your role must shift from operational manager to strategic advisor. You are there to observe, support, and ensure they are adhering to the company V/TO® and Core Values. You must bring high energy, ask guiding questions, and validate their decisions without taking over.

If you cannot do this, you must stop attending. The ultimate goal of preparing for a clean exit is to prove the business can run without you. Transition the meeting entirely to your Integrator.

Let the team run the Level 10 Meeting™ independently while you review only the high-level Scorecard and meeting ratings after the fact. This gives them the space to step up and ownership of the company's traction. Removing yourself entirely is often the healthiest move for both your exit valuation and your team's development.