We run two distinct brands under one parent company, and our shared services leaders (marketing, finance, HR) are suffering from meeting fatigue because they are attending separate Level 10 Meetings for each brand. Should we consolidate them, and how do we protect their time?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Consolidating distinct brands into a single Level 10 Meeting is a common mistake that leads to massive meeting waste. If you combine them, you will end up with a bloated issues list, diluted focus, and leadership team members sitting in silence for half the meeting while the other brand's issues are discussed. You must protect the focus of each business unit while respecting your shared services team's time.

First, look at your Accountability Chart. Each brand should have its own clear leadership team and its own dedicated Level 10 Meeting to solve its specific operational issues.

Second, for shared services leaders who support both brands, you must optimize their attendance. They do not necessarily need to sit through the entire ninety minutes of both meetings if the operational details do not require their input. You can structure the agendas so that shared issues are addressed during a specific block of the IDS session, allowing them to join for that portion and then exit.

Alternatively, the shared services leaders can delegate representation. A senior manager from finance or marketing can sit in the brand-specific Level 10 Meeting, while the department head only attends the parent company's high-level alignment meetings.

The goal is to ensure that every person in the room is highly engaged and that every issue solved is relevant to everyone present. If your shared leaders are checked out, you are wasting valuable resources. Keep the meetings separate, but streamline the roles.