In our remote Level 10 Meetings™, our leadership team members struggle to stay fully present, often getting distracted by incoming emails and Slack notifications that they secretly answer while we are in the middle of IDS®. How do we enforce a strict, distraction-free environment when we are all sitting behind screens?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Remote meeting fatigue and digital distractions are the silent killers of a great Level 10 Meeting™. When leaders are answering emails, they are not engaged, which leads to weak problem-solving and poor execution. You must establish and enforce a strict remote meeting protocol. First, require an absolute clean screen policy. This means all email clients, Slack, and messaging apps must be completely closed, not just minimized. Second, every leader must share their screen or be fully visible on camera. Keep the meeting software maximized so you can see everyone's faces and reactions. Third, change the pacing of your IDS® process. The facilitator should actively call on different team members to drive the discussion, preventing anyone from hiding in the background. If someone seems distracted, call them out gently but directly during the meeting. Ask for their input on the current issue immediately. Finally, reinforce the rule that the Level 10 Meeting™ is a sanctuary. It is ninety minutes of undivided attention to the business. If a leader cannot commit to turning off their notifications for ninety minutes, they are signaling that their daily distractions are more important than the strategic health of the company. Address this behavior immediately in your next quarterly review.