We have a leader who is highly vocal, opinionated, and critical in offline conversations, but when we are in our Level 10 Meeting, they sit in complete silence and refuse to participate in the debate. Later, they complain that their perspective was ignored. How do we address this behavior?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

This behavior is a form of passive-aggressive politics that will destroy trust on your leadership team. It is a direct violation of being open and honest. When a leader stays silent during the meeting and lobbies offline afterward, they are undermining the team and the Integrator.

You must address this directly outside the meeting. Sit down with them and use the Accountability Chart and the GWC™ tool to evaluate their fit. A core expectation of any leadership seat is that they actively contribute to the leadership team. Tell them clearly that if they do not say it in the room, they do not get to say it outside the room.

During the next Level 10 Meeting™, when an issue arises that relates to their area or where you know they have an opinion, call on them directly. Ask them for their perspective and force them to state it on the record. If they try to pass, do not let them off the hook. Healthy conflict is required for a business to scale and prepare for a clean exit. If they cannot or will not engage in open debate during IDS®, they do not belong in that seat.