Every single week, my team rates our Level 10 Meeting™ an '8' or a '9' out of habit, even when we solve nothing and go over time. How do I force honest ratings?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The 'fake 8' is a common symptom of a team that fears conflict or wants to escape the meeting as quickly as possible. When a team routinely rates a mediocre, off-track, or unproductive meeting an 8, they are violating the 'Trust' pillar of your company Charter, which demands open and honest communication.

To break this habit, the owner or Integrator must lead by example. If a meeting ran over, if the team got bogged down in minor details, or if you failed to solve your top three issues, rate the meeting a 5 or 6 out of 10.

When anyone rates the meeting below an 8, the facilitator must ask: 'What would have made this meeting a 10?' This is not an invitation to complain; it is a search for actionable feedback. Did we start late? Did we fail to IDS® effectively? Did someone dominate the conversation? By holding each other to a true standard of excellence, you will turn the rating section from a mindless ritual into a tool for continuous operational improvement.