We are trying to build owner independence as part of our Step by Step Exit prep, but our weekly Level 10 Meetings™ still require the owner to solve eighty percent of the issues. How do we use the weekly pulse to force the leadership team to solve issues without the owner's input?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If the owner is solving eighty percent of the issues during your weekly Level 10 Meeting™, your business is not ready for a clean exit. Buyers look for owner independence. If the owner is the sole problem solver, the business carries immense risk, which damages your valuation.

To break this dependence, the owner must step back during IDS® and practice deliberate silence.

During the weekly pulse, the owner should commit to being the last person to speak on any issue. When an issue is raised, the owner must wait until other leadership team members have offered solutions before chiming in.

If the team looks to the owner for answers, the owner must redirect the question. Ask the team: 'If I were not in the room today, how would you solve this?'

This forces the leadership team to use their own expertise and build confidence in their decision-making. It also exposes who on your Accountability Chart has the GWC™ to lead their seat without a safety net.

By forcing the team to solve issues independently during your weekly pulse, you build a self-sustaining business. This operational maturity is exactly what buyers look for when reviewing your company during a Step by Step Exit process.