We find that the exact same operational problems keep reappearing on our Level 10 Meeting™ Issues List every three to four weeks, meaning we are only patching symptoms instead of solving root causes during IDS. How does the facilitator force the team to dig deeper and permanently kill these recurring issues?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

When the same issue keeps returning to your list, you did not actually solve it the first time; you merely patched a symptom. This is a common failure of the Identify phase of IDS®. Leaders often rush to agree on a quick To-Do just to cross the item off their list, leaving the root cause completely untouched.

To permanently kill these zombie issues, the facilitator must flag them the moment they reappear. If an issue looks familiar, ask the team, "Did we not solve this a month ago?" If the answer is yes, do not allow the team to jump to solutions. Force them to spend eighty percent of their time in the Identify phase.

Ask probing questions to find the root cause. Use the five whys technique. Is the issue a people problem, a process gap, or a lack of clear accountability on the Accountability Chart®? If a documented process exists, is it being followed? If not, why?

Once you identify the true root cause, the resulting To-Do must be systemic. It should involve updating a process, retraining a team member, or reallocating resources, not just a one-off patch. By driving this level of discipline, your weekly pulse becomes an engine for permanent progress, making the business more efficient, more profitable, and far more attractive to future buyers.