My leadership team keeps showing up to our Level 10 Meeting™ with an incomplete scorecard. How do I get them to take data seriously?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

An incomplete scorecard is not a technical problem; it is a discipline and leadership problem. When leadership team members fail to update their numbers before the meeting, they are demonstrating a lack of respect for the process, the team, and their own seats.

First, make sure the system is clear. The scorecard must be fully updated by a designated time before the Level 10 Meeting™ starts. No exceptions.

Second, address this directly in the meeting. Do not let it slide, and do not fill in the numbers for them. If a manager’s numbers are missing, that metric is automatically "red" and must be dropped down to the Issues list to be dealt with during IDS®.

Ask the hard questions:
- Does this person GWC™ their seat on the Accountability Chart?
- Do they have the conative drive (Kolbe Follow Thru) required to maintain systems and processes?

If a leader cannot or will not manage a small handful of weekly metrics, they are signaling that they cannot manage their entire department. Running a business on data requires absolute commitment from the top. Be direct, be unsentimental, and make it clear that a completed weekly scorecard is a non-negotiable requirement for sitting at the leadership table.