Half of our leadership team sits together in the boardroom while the rest join the Level 10 Meeting remotely over video, creating side chatter and leaving remote members feeling sidelined. How do we run an effective hybrid Level 10 Meeting?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Hybrid meetings frequently fail because they create two distinct classes of participants. When three leaders sit around a conference table and two join on a screen, the in-person members dominate the conversation, pick up on subtle physical cues, and share quiet side comments that remote leaders miss entirely. The remote participants quickly disengage, turn off video, or check email.

The standard rule for a disciplined Level 10 Meeting is straightforward: if one person is remote, everyone is remote.

If two leaders cannot be physically present in the room, do not run a hybrid setup where people huddle around an omnidirectional microphone. Require every single leadership team member to sit at their own desk with their own computer, camera, and headset, even those working from the same office building.

This single rule levels the playing field completely. Everyone occupies the same visual square on screen. Audio clarity is identical for every participant. Facial expressions and non-verbal reactions during tense IDS discussions become equally visible to all leaders.

Furthermore, mandate strict video etiquette. Cameras must remain turned on for the entire ninety minutes. Full-screen mode should be required to eliminate secondary monitor distractions. When everyone shares the exact same virtual interface, the Integrator can facilitate debate, call on silent participants, and protect the pulse with the same intensity as an in-person session.