We have a couple of leaders who consistently walk into our Level 10 Meetings™ two minutes late or spend the first few minutes of the meeting updating their scorecard metrics in real-time. How do we stop this lack of preparation and respect for the meeting pulse without creating personal friction?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A Level 10 Meeting™ must start on time and end on time, and it requires absolute preparation. When a leader arrives late or enters their scorecard numbers during the meeting, they are displaying a lack of respect for their peers and signaling that their time is more valuable than everyone else's.

To fix this, you must establish a strict ground rule: the meeting starts exactly at the designated minute, whether everyone is in the room or not. Do not wait for late arrivals. If the scorecard review begins and a leader's metrics are blank, do not wait for them to type them in. Mark those metrics as red or off-track for the week, and immediately drop the empty metrics to the Issues List.

Address this behavior directly during the rating portion of the meeting. If a leader was late or unprepared, the meeting score should reflect that, and the reason should be stated openly. If the behavior continues, it becomes a people issue that must be addressed outside of the meeting using your core values and the Accountability Chart. True leadership requires discipline, and protecting the sanctity of your weekly meeting pulse is where that discipline is proven.