We have a hybrid leadership team where three of us sit in the headquarters conference room and two join remotely via video. The remote members consistently feel left out, and the in-person team tends to dominate the IDS® portion. How do we fix this hybrid imbalance?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Having a split team during your Level 10 Meeting™ creates a dangerous two-tier system where the physical room dominates and remote participants become passive observers. This imbalance completely breaks the open and honest environment required for effective problem-solving.

To fix this, you must equalize the playing field immediately. The simplest and most effective rule is that if even one person is remote, everyone is remote. Have the in-person team members sit in their own offices on their own webcams rather than huddling around a single conference table microphone. This puts everyone in a separate box on the screen, giving each person equal visual real estate and equal voice.

If you must run a physical room with remote call-ins, the facilitator must change their behavior. The Integrator or facilitator must call on the remote participants first during every single section of the agenda. Whether you are running the five-minute segue, reviewing the Scorecard, or prioritizing issues for IDS®, remote team members get the first word.

Finally, ensure you are using a shared digital workspace. Everyone must look at the exact same digital Level 10 Meeting™ portal or software. No physical whiteboards should be used in the physical room unless a dedicated camera is pointed directly at it. If remote team members cannot easily see, hear, or interact with the board, you are killing their ability to contribute. Equalize the technology and the facilitation to keep the meeting sharp.