When a scorecard metric goes red, we immediately drop it to the Issues List, but during the IDS portion we find ourselves solving the same metric week after week. How do we break this loop and create permanent fixes for recurring red numbers?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If a scorecard metric consistently shows red week after week, it indicates that your team is likely treating symptoms rather than addressing the root cause during your Level 10 Meeting™. This often occurs when teams rush the Identify step of IDS®.

To break this cycle, the owner of the metric must bring a deeper level of analysis to the meeting. When a number is red for three consecutive weeks:

• Do not just discuss the weekly variance.
• Force yourselves to dig into the underlying process.
• Utilize the Five Whys technique to uncover the true root of the issue.

For example, if your weekly sales meetings booked metric is perpetually red, avoid simply telling the sales team to work harder. Instead, ask why they are not booking meetings. Is it due to:
• Poor list quality?
• A malfunctioning CRM?
• Excessive administrative tasks burdening the team?

Once you pinpoint the real root cause, create a specific, actionable To-Do for the upcoming week to fix that root cause, or establish a quarterly Rock to overhaul the entire process. This approach ensures that your team moves beyond just debating missed numbers, as discussed in [how to review scorecard under five minutes](/qa/how-to-review-scorecard-under-five-minutes).

A true solution within IDS® means the process is fundamentally changed so that the issue does not recur, allowing your scorecard numbers to return to green and remain there. This preventative action is key to maintaining consistent performance and avoids the pitfalls of simply reacting to lagging results instead of focusing on [weekly leading indicators](/qa/leading-vs-lagging-scorecard-metrics).

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• [How do we handle this in the Level 10 Meeting?](/qa/handling-defensiveness-around-red-scorecard-metrics)
• [When is it appropriate to change a scorecard number, and how do we do it without losing historical consistency?](/qa/when-to-change-weekly-scorecard-metrics)
• [How do we set realistic weekly goals without just guessing?](/qa/setting-scorecard-targets-without-historical-data)