I am preparing my business for a clean exit, but my operations director sits in silence during our Level 10 Meeting IDS sessions, only speaking when directly asked. How do I determine if this silence is a GWC issue or just their personality before it hurts our valuation?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Silence in a Level 10 Meeting is a major operational risk, especially when you are preparing your business for a clean exit. Potential buyers look for a leadership team that operates independently of the founder. If your operations director sits in silence during key discussions, you must determine if they simply have a quiet, analytical personality or if they are struggling with GWC, meaning they do not Get it, Want it, or have the Capacity to do the job. To diagnose this, separate the behavior from the setting. Schedule a direct one-to-one meeting outside the weekly pulse. Ask them targeted questions about the issues raised in the previous meeting. If they possess deep insights but fail to share them in the group, it is a confidence or meeting-dynamics issue. You must encourage them to speak up by explicitly asking for their input during IDS. However, if they have no answers or seem completely disengaged during your one-to-one conversation, you are dealing with a structural GWC issue. A leader who lacks the capacity or desire to engage in solving company issues will drag down your valuation during due diligence. You must address this mismatch immediately. Use your Core Values and the Accountability Chart to evaluate if they are in the right seat. If they are not, you must make a change to protect your exit readiness.