During our sixty-minute IDS block, we waste massive amounts of time scrolling through dozens of issues trying to decide which ones to tackle first, or we default to solving the easiest, most comfortable tactical problems instead of the hardest strategic roadblocks. How do we structurally prioritize our weekly Issues List so we immediately attack the highest-leverage items first?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The purpose of the IDS® portion of your Level 10 Meeting™ is not to solve every single issue on your board. The goal is to solve the most critical issues that are holding your business back from achieving its V/TO® goals. When your team wastes time scrolling through the list or cherry-picking easy tasks, you are avoiding the real work.

To stop this, implement a strict three-step prioritization discipline before you solve anything.

First, the facilitator must ask the team to look at the entire Issues List and identify the top three priorities for the day.

Second, the team must vote on which issue is number one, which is number two, and which is number three. Do not allow a leader to simply start talking about their favorite problem. Force a collective decision.

Third, focus entirely on issue number one. You do not look at, discuss, or think about issue number two until issue number one is completely solved and a clear, binary To-Do is assigned.

If you only solve one major, high-leverage issue during your sixty-minute block, that is a highly successful meeting. It is far better to resolve one massive operational bottleneck forever than to clean up five minor, comfortable issues that do not move the needle for your business.