What specific prep work must each member of our leadership team complete individually in the two weeks leading up to a quarterly session to ensure we spend our face-to-face time on high-impact strategic issues rather than status updates?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

To ensure our one-day quarterly sessions are highly productive, your leadership team cannot arrive cold. Each team member must complete specific individual preparation during the two weeks leading up to our session. This preparation ensures we spend our limited time solving deep strategic issues rather than reviewing status reports. First, every leader must review their individual Rocks and their departmental metrics to assess performance honestly. You must identify exactly where you fell short and bring those issues to the table. Second, each member must review the current V/TO to ensure your long-term vision still aligns with daily reality. Finally, you must submit your top issues to the master Issues List in advance. These issues should not be minor operational complaints that can be resolved in your weekly Level 10 Meeting. They must be major, cross-departmental bottlenecks, structural challenges, or strategic opportunities that require the full leadership team to solve. By arriving with your metrics reviewed and your critical issues clearly articulated, we can jump straight into the IDS process within the first hour of our session.