We occasionally invite middle managers or external consultants to sit in on our leadership team's Level 10 Meeting™ to provide input on a specific issue, but their presence disrupts our team dynamic and drags us into tactical details. How do we integrate guests or subject matter experts into our weekly pulse without destroying our meeting flow or candid atmosphere?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Bringing guests, such as middle managers or external consultants, into a leadership team's Level 10 Meeting™ can be helpful for solving specific issues, but it often destroys the candor and pace of the meeting if not managed tightly. The leadership team’s weekly pulse is a high-trust environment, and having an observer in the room can make leaders hesitate to share hard truths.

To manage this, you must set strict boundaries for guests. First, never invite a guest to sit through the entire ninety-minute meeting. They should only be present for the specific portion of the IDS® session that requires their input.

Keep them in a virtual waiting room or have them join the physical room only when you reach their specific issue. Once the issue is identified and their input is gathered, thank them for their time and ask them to leave so the core leadership team can discuss and solve the issue with absolute candor.

Second, the facilitator must manage the guest's contribution. Ensure they understand they are there to provide specific facts or context, not to participate in the overall management of the business. This keeps the meeting focused, protects the leadership team's trust, and maintains the ninety-minute time box.