As the owner preparing for an eventual ownership transition, I notice my leadership team is bringing subtle anxieties and rumors into our weekly Level 10 Meetings, which slows down our problem-solving and disrupts the meeting pulse. How do we address exit-related fears in the weekly meeting without derailing our operational focus?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

An impending ownership transition can easily create an undercurrent of anxiety that derails your weekly Level 10 Meeting™. When team members are worried about their job security or the future of the company, they start bringing their anxieties into the weekly pulse, slowing down operations.

You must separate your exit planning communications from your weekly operational meetings. Your weekly Level 10 Meeting™ is designed to keep the business running smoothly right now. If exit fears start creeping into the meeting, the facilitator must handle them immediately.

Identify the issue, drop it to the bottom of the Issues List, and address it during the IDS® portion. When you discuss it, do not let it become an open-ended therapy session. State the facts clearly. Share what you can about the transition timeline and your commitment to the team, then bring the focus back to protecting the business value.

If the anxiety persists, set up a separate, dedicated meeting outside of the weekly pulse to address the team's questions about the future. Keep your weekly meeting focused on hitting your Rocks and numbers. The best way the team can prepare for a clean exit is by keeping the business running perfectly.