Our leadership team uses the Level 10 Meeting™ as a place to brainstorm creative, blue-sky ideas for new products rather than resolving immediate quarterly issues. How do we protect our IDS® time from turning into an endless brainstorming session?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The weekly Level 10 Meeting™ is an execution meeting designed to keep your business on track and solve immediate, short-term issues. When your leadership team starts using IDS® time to brainstorm creative, blue-sky ideas for new products or long-term strategies, your weekly operational momentum grinds to a halt.

To protect your execution time, you must maintain a clear distinction between short-term issues and long-term strategic opportunities. Brainstorming and strategic planning belong in your quarterly and annual meetings, not in your weekly pulse.

When a leader introduces a blue-sky idea during IDS®, the facilitator must intervene immediately and redirect the team. Follow this process to manage strategic ideas:
- Identify that the topic is a long-term opportunity rather than a weekly operational issue.
- Park the idea on the Long-Term Issues list on your V/TO® so it is not lost.
- Return immediately to your prioritized short-term Issues list.

By keeping your weekly meeting focused strictly on execution and immediate problem-solving, you ensure your team remains aligned and productive. Save the creative brainstorming for the appropriate strategic sessions where you have the time and space to think big.