Our in-person Level 10 Meetings™ are constantly interrupted by leaders checking their laptops for live customer data or answering urgent Slack messages under the guise of staying connected. How do we enforce a strict no-tech environment without slowing down our ability to reference data during IDS®?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Laptops and mobile devices are the ultimate focus-killers in a Level 10 Meeting™. When leaders are staring at their screens, checking Slack, or responding to emails, they are not fully present. They cannot engage in the high-level debate required for effective IDS®.

To run a highly productive meeting, you must implement a strict no-tech rule for everyone in the room, with one single exception: the person who is capturing To-Dos and updating the Issues List. Every other laptop must be closed, and every phone must be turned face down or placed on a side table.

If a leader claims they need their computer to reference data, challenge that behavior. Your Scorecard should already contain the high-level, leading indicators you need to run the business. If deep transactional data is required to solve an issue, that issue should likely be pulled offline and resolved between the relevant parties, rather than wasting the time of the entire leadership team.

By closing the screens, you force your leaders to look at each other, listen actively, and engage in healthy conflict. The physical presence and focus of your team will improve instantly, leading to faster, more permanent solutions during your weekly pulse.