We have several chronic issues that reappear on our weekly Level 10 Meeting™ Issues List month after month because we settle for temporary workarounds instead of permanent solutions. How do we discipline our team to solve issues at their root cause so they never show up on our agenda again?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When the same problems keep appearing on your weekly Level 10 Meeting™ Issues List, it is a clear sign that your team is failing to execute the Identify phase of IDS® correctly. Most leadership teams rush through identification because discussing solutions feels more productive. They end up solving symptoms rather than the root cause, leading to temporary workarounds that eventually break down. To stop this cycle, you must install a strict rule: you are not allowed to discuss solutions until the root cause of the issue is clearly identified and agreed upon by everyone in the room. When an issue is raised, the facilitator must ask, 'What is the real problem here?' Keep digging until you find the operational breakdown. For example, if the issue is a missed deadline, the root cause is rarely laziness; it is usually a vague process, a capacity issue, or a lack of GWC™ in a specific seat on the Accountability Chart. Once the team agrees on the root cause, the solution is usually obvious and permanent. By slowing down to identify the real issue first, you eliminate the weekly loop of recurring problems, save valuable operational capacity, and keep your lists clean.