Our leaders often show up to our Level 10 Meeting completely unprepared, updating their scorecard numbers and thinking of their headlines on the fly. How do we ensure everyone does their prep work before the meeting starts?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Arriving unprepared for a Level 10 Meeting™ is a sign of disrespect for your peers' time. It slows down the pace of the meeting, creates unnecessary friction, and forces the team to watch you type data instead of solving problems.

To fix this, you must establish a strict preparation rule: all scorecard metrics, Rock updates, and headlines must be updated in your meeting software at least one hour before the meeting starts.

The facilitator should not allow team members to update their numbers during the meeting. If a leader has not updated their metrics, their numbers are considered off track by default, and they are dropped to the Issues List as an issue of personal accountability.

This simple rule shifts the burden of preparation back to the individual. It ensures that when your leaders walk into the room, their minds are already focused on the issues, not on administrative updates.

By demanding high standards of preparation, you will elevate the quality of your discussions and ensure that every minute of your ninety-minute meeting is spent on high-value, strategic work.