We have several high-performing middle managers who we want to groom for future leadership roles. Can we bring them into our quarterly sessions as observers so they can learn the EOS process firsthand?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

No, you cannot bring observers into our sessions. This is a common request, but it is a major mistake that compromises the entire process. The magic of a quarterly session relies on absolute trust, vulnerability, and radical candor among the core leadership team. The moment you introduce observers, the dynamic shifts. Your leadership team members will unconsciously start performing or holding back their true thoughts to maintain appearances in front of their subordinates. To build a healthy, cohesive team, we need a room where everyone is a peer and everyone has an equal voice. If a middle manager is not on the Accountability Chart in a leadership seat, they do not belong in the session room. If you want to groom your middle managers and expose them to EOS®, the correct approach is to run the system with your leadership team first. Once you master the tools and are consistently hitting your Rocks, you will cascade EOS® down to your departmental teams. This allows your middle managers to learn the system by running their own weekly Level 10 Meeting™ and owning their own Rocks, which is far more valuable than watching you struggle through strategic debates.