We have a leadership team member who is incredibly polite and always hits their individual metrics, but they act like a silent passenger during our Level 10 Meetings, never contributing to IDS or challenging decisions. How do we get them to engage and become an active leader?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A silent passenger on the leadership team is a silent killer of your culture. Leadership is not a passive role. If a department head sits quietly during strategic debates, they are failing to represent their department and failing to contribute to the collective health of the company. Their silence is often a sign of fear, disengagement, or a lack of GWC™ for the leadership seat itself.

To address this, start with a direct conversation outside the meeting. Ask them why they are holding back. They might feel intimidated, or they might believe that as long as their department is green on the scorecard, they do not need to participate in broader company issues. Explain that as a leadership team member, their job is to help solve problems for the entire organization, not just manage their own silo.

Next, actively pull them into the discussion during your Level 10 Meeting™. During the IDS® portion, ask for their specific perspective on issues, especially those outside their direct department.

Finally, review their GWC™ for the leadership seat. If they cannot or will not transition from a quiet manager to an active, collaborative leader who contributes to strategic decisions, they are in the wrong seat. You need builders and problem solvers on your leadership team, not passive spectators.