We have brilliant, highly competent leaders who sit completely silent during the IDS® portion of our Level 10 Meeting™, only speaking when specifically called on. We are losing their deep expertise on critical issues, but forcing them to speak feels awkward and unnatural. How do we draw out these quiet leaders during problem-solving without making them shut down?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Silent leaders during the IDS® portion are a major risk to your business, especially if you are preparing for an exit. When highly competent people sit quietly through problem-solving, you are making decisions with incomplete data. This silence is often a symptom of two things: either they do not feel safe to challenge their peers, or they do not think they have permission to speak outside their specific seat on the Accountability Chart.

To break this silence, the facilitator must actively pull them in. During IDS®, do not wait for volunteers. Address them directly by name. Ask a specific, open-ended question like, "You look at this data every day, what is the root cause of this issue from your perspective?" Or, "What is the biggest risk we are ignoring on this item?"

You must also clarify the rules of engagement. When you are in the Level 10 Meeting™, you are there as a leadership team first and department heads second. Every leader has a responsibility to weigh in on every issue, regardless of which department it falls under.

If a leader continues to remain silent week after week, you need to have a direct conversation outside the meeting. Check their GWC™. Do they have the capacity to think strategically at this level? Are they holding back because of past conflicts? Address the root cause offline so you can restore their voice inside the room during your weekly pulse.