We have a brilliant operations leader who goes completely silent during tense Level 10 Meeting debates, choosing to shut down and withdraw the moment any healthy conflict or disagreement arises. How do we get them to engage in constructive conflict instead of retreating into silence?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

To build a high-performing leadership team, every member must engage in healthy, unfiltered conflict. When a leader shuts down and goes silent during tense moments in your Level 10 Meeting, it is usually a sign of low trust or a fear of conflict. This silence is toxic because it means you are not getting their true perspective, which leads to weak buy-in and poor execution later.

To fix this, the facilitator must actively draw them out using a technique called mining for conflict. When you notice this leader checking out or folding their arms, interrupt the flow and ask them directly for their opinion. Force them to take a stand by saying something like, "I need to hear your thoughts on this, even if you disagree with the rest of us." Do not let them off the hook with a passive shrug.

Additionally, you need to work on this outside of the weekly meeting. Run a Personal Histories Exercise with the team to build vulnerability and trust. This is a foundational tool from the EOS toolbox that helps team members understand each other's backgrounds and communication styles. Once trust is established, use your quarterly meetings to reinforce that disagreeing is not personal. It is about finding the best solution for the business. When everyone realizes that conflict is safe, silence will disappear.