During the IDS portion of our Level 10 Meetings, my leaders only speak up when an issue directly affects their department, leaving the rest of the company-wide problems to me. How do I get them to think like owners of the whole business?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When leadership team members only focus on their own departments, they are acting as department heads rather than true company executives. This narrow focus forces the founder or Integrator to carry the entire weight of strategic decision-making, which severely limits your company's ability to scale or exit cleanly. To break this silo mentality, you must change the expectation of what it means to sit on the leadership team. Emphasize that once they enter the Level 10 Meeting room, they must take off their departmental hats and put on their ownership hats. They are collectively responsible for the health and success of the entire business. During the IDS portion of your meetings, do not allow leaders to remain silent. If you are discussing a sales issue, call on the head of operations or finance for their perspective. Ask for their input on how the problem impacts their departments and the company's overall goals. This forces them to look at the business holistically. Additionally, ensure your leadership team's Rocks are occasionally cross-functional. Pair two leaders together to solve a major company-wide issue, such as integrating AI into your customer service workflows. This builds collaboration and helps them understand the operational realities of other departments. By consistently requiring their participation in all strategic discussions, you will build a cohesive leadership team capable of running the business without your constant intervention.