We have several issues on our Level 10 Meeting Short-Term Issues List that have been sitting there for over six weeks because they never get prioritized for IDS. How do we clean up these stale issues?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

A bloated Short-Term Issues List is a clear sign of poor prioritization and avoidance. If issues are sitting on your Level 10 Meeting agenda for more than six weeks, they are cluttering your workspace and draining your team's focus. These stale issues must be purged to maintain a high-velocity pulse.

Cleaning Up Stale Issues

To clean up your list, the facilitator must call out any issue that has survived multiple weeks without being selected for IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve). For each stale issue, ask the owner a simple question: "Is this issue truly a priority for us to solve this quarter?"

There are two main paths for these issues:

• Move to Long-Term Issues List: If the answer is no, immediately move the issue to the Long-Term Issues List on your V/TO. This keeps your weekly focus sharp and prevents your short-term list from becoming a dumping ground for non-urgent ideas. For guidance on strategic long-term planning, consider [how your 3-Year Picture and core processes survive shifts](/qa/customer-expectations-shifting-ai-vto).
• Force to IDS: If the issue is still critical, but the team has been avoiding it because it is difficult or uncomfortable, you must force it to the top of the IDS list today. Do not allow your team to choose easy, comfortable problems over hard, systemic ones. For more on handling team dynamics, especially when things go wrong, review [using the Accountability Chart to stop the blame game during meetings](/qa/using-accountability-chart-to-stop-blame-in-ids).

Maintaining Discipline

By enforcing strict discipline on the age of your issues, you ensure your leadership team is always working on what matters most. This proactive approach supports the overall effectiveness of your [Level 10 Meeting agenda](/qa/rein-in-level-10-meeting-segue). If your Integrator facilitates, ensuring they can remain objective is also key to effective issue resolution. You might consider if [your Integrator should facilitate Level 10 Meetings](/qa/should-integrator-facilitate-level-10-meetings) or if rotating the role is beneficial. Ultimately, cleaning up stale issues ensures your leadership team remains focused and accountable for driving progress, preventing the kind of "checking off boxes" mentality that can stall growth. For further insights on shifting mindsets, consider [how to shift your leadership mindset to enterprise-first](/qa/shifting-leadership-mindset-to-enterprise-first).