We frequently encounter complex, systemic operational issues during our Level 10 Meeting that we cannot possibly solve in a single fifteen-minute IDS session. How do we tackle these big issues without letting them hijack the entire agenda?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Some operational issues are simply too large, complex, or strategic to be solved in a standard fifteen-minute IDS® session during a weekly Level 10 Meeting™. When you encounter a massive problem, trying to solve it on the fly will either hijack the entire agenda and leave other urgent issues unaddressed, or result in a rushed, superficial solution that fails to stick.

When the team identifies an issue that requires deep research, extensive cross-departmental alignment, or a major strategic decision, the facilitator must step in. Do not try to solve it right then. Instead, use the solve step to create a specific, weekly To-Do.

This To-Do should assign one leader to gather the necessary data, map out potential solutions, or draft a proposal. Alternatively, if the issue requires the collective input of multiple leaders, the To-Do should be to schedule a separate, sixty-minute working session outside of the Level 10 Meeting™ to focus solely on that topic. Once that separate session is scheduled or the research is complete, the owner of the To-Do brings the results back to the next weekly meeting. This approach keeps your weekly pulse fast and productive while ensuring that complex issues get the dedicated, structured attention they deserve.