I am an owner preparing for an exit, and I am deliberately staying silent in our Level 10 Meetings to build team independence, but my silence is making the team nervous and stalling decisions. How do we run our weekly meeting pulse without me driving every solution?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Staying silent to build team independence is a noble goal, but doing it abruptly creates a vacuum of leadership that stalls your meeting pulse. If your team is used to you solving every problem, your silence is not encouraging them to step up; it is making them second-guess themselves because they are waiting for your approval. You need to transition from being the primary problem solver to being a strategic advisor who asks the right questions.

During the IDS® section of your Level 10 Meeting™, do not jump in with your solution first. Instead, wait for the team to propose their paths forward. If they look to you for approval, turn the question back to them. Ask them which option best aligns with your V/TO® and your long-term exit goals. Use the Accountability Chart to redirect the focus. Point to the seat responsible for the issue and ask what that person recommends.

You can also adopt a specific rule for your participation. Agree that you will only speak after at least two other leadership team members have shared their thoughts. This forces the team to fill the silence and take ownership of the solutions. Over time, they will build the confidence to run the meeting pulse without your constant input, which is exactly the level of owner independence a prospective buyer wants to see when valuing your business.