The Impact of Level 10 Meetings

Ever sat through a meeting wondering, “Is this really necessary?” You’re nodding along, someone’s talking in circles, and deep down, you know that nothing’s actually going to change. If that sounds familiar, your team might be stuck in the dreaded “meeting for the sake of meeting” trap. It’s like rerunning a sitcom where the punchline is always: “We’ll discuss it next week.”
But there’s hope. Enter the Level 10 Meeting from the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS). This meeting format is like hitting Ctrl+Alt+Delete on every inefficient meeting you’ve ever been a part of. It’s structured, focused, and—most importantly—it gets things done without making you question your entire career.
Let’s dive into why Level 10 meetings are so effective and how they might just save your team from meeting purgatory.

What’s a Level 10 Meeting, Anyway?

A Level 10 meeting is a 90-minute weekly leadership meeting designed to get your team out of the meeting rut and into action. It’s not just another checkbox on your calendar—it’s the meeting where things actually get done. Each session is built around problem-solving, accountability, and (believe it or not) some real team engagement. Instead of feeling like a slow, painful march through endless updates, a Level 10 meeting is fast-paced and energizing. You leave the room (or Zoom) feeling accomplished, clear on priorities, and maybe even a little fired up about what’s next. Simply - it’s about aligning your team and moving forward—not just “surviving another meeting.”

The Agenda:

1. Segue (5 minutes): Start with some good news—personal or professional. It’s like the pre-game warm-up. Someone’s new puppy? Awesome! Finally organized your desktop? Let’s celebrate! This part gets everyone into a positive, engaged mindset before diving into the real work.
2. Scorecard Review (5 minutes): Now it’s time for the numbers. You quickly check on the key metrics to see where things stand. If something’s off, no one’s pointing fingers—this is about seeing the problem before it becomes the problem. Picture it like your team’s weekly “health check” to keep things in balance before they spiral out of control.
3. Rock Review (5 minutes):Rocks are your big priorities for the quarter. Each person gives a brief update on theirs. Haven’t moved your Rock? No guilt trips—just a chance for the team to help you figure out why. Think of it like a friendly nudge, reminding you to keep pushing your big goals forward.
4. People Headlines (5 minutes): Time for team shout-outs, wins, or anything important happening with your crew. It’s like your team’s highlight reel—whether it’s celebrating someone’s big success or spotting a potential challenge early, this keeps everyone in the loop and ready to tackle whatever comes next.
5. To-Do List Review (5 minutes): Remember those action items from last week? Now’s your time to show you followed through—or confess that maybe you got a little distracted binge-watching Netflix (don’t worry, we’ve all been there). No stress though, this is all about accountability and helping each other stay on track.
6. IDS – Identify, Discuss, Solve (60 minutes): Here’s the main event. The IDS process is where the real problem-solving happens. First, Identify the issue—no beating around the bush. Then, Discuss it without turning it into a therapy session for the entire team. Finally, Solve it—walk away with clear action steps and a sense of accomplishment. It’s like giving your problems a one-way ticket to “Handled.”
7. Conclusion (5 minutes): Wrap up by reviewing new to-dos, sharing any key messages, and making sure everyone’s ready for the week ahead. You’ll leave feeling like you’ve hit “reset” on your productivity, with a solid game plan in place.

Why Level 10 Meetings Work (And Aren’t Just Another Meeting)

Structure Keeps You From Meeting Black Holes: We’ve all been in that meeting—the one where you spend 20 minutes debating whose job it was to “reply all” before realizing you haven’t even touched the main agenda. Level 10 meetings run on a strict agenda that keeps everyone focused. There’s no getting lost down the rabbit hole of side discussions, and everything runs on time. Think of it like the navigation system for your meeting—keeping things moving and getting you where you need to go.
Plus, when each section has a set time limit, there’s no chance to veer off into a debate about whether “team-building dodgeball” should be a thing again. Spoiler: It shouldn’t.

Accountability Without the Guilt Trip: Nobody wants to be the person who didn’t get their to-do done. With Level 10 meetings, you don’t just leave with action items—you come back the next week ready to report on them. Didn’t get it done? The whole team knows, but it’s not about finger-pointing. It’s about making sure everyone’s accountable, and if you’re stuck, the team jumps in to help figure out why. Think of it like a group project—but one where everyone actually does their part. No hiding behind “Oh, I didn’t see that email.”

IDS: Where Real Problem-Solving Happens (Yes, Really): The best part of the Level 10 meeting is the IDS process (Identify, Discuss, Solve). This isn’t your typical “Let’s talk about the problem for 45 minutes and then… oops, we’re out of time.” IDS is built to get you to a solution—fast.

    Identify: First, figure out what the real problem is. You’d be surprised how often people try to solve symptoms rather than the root cause. It’s like spending an hour troubleshooting your Wi-Fi only to realize you unplugged the router.

    Discuss: The team brainstorms possible solutions, but this isn’t an endless debate. It’s focused, so you don’t end up in the weeds.

    Solve: You leave with a decision and action steps. Everyone knows what’s happening next, and who’s responsible for doing it.

In other words, IDS is like the “fast-forward” button for getting things done. No more leaving the room thinking, “So… what exactly did we just agree on?”

Transparency: Everything’s Out in the Open (In a Good Way): Level 10 meetings create transparency without the drama. By regularly reviewing your scorecards and Rocks, the whole team can see what’s working and what’s not. If a key metric’s off, you talk about it. If someone’s Rock hasn’t budged, you figure out why. The whole process is designed to make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Plus, the People Headlines section is a great way to keep the mood positive and recognize team wins—or flag something before it turns into a full-blown meltdown. It’s like clearing the air, so there’s no buildup of awkward tension or side-eyes at the next Zoom meeting.

It’s Engaging—and Yes, It Can Be Fun: Level 10 meetings aren’t just about getting stuff done. They’re built to make your team feel engaged. Between the good news sharing, tackling real issues, and that satisfying feeling when you leave with a plan, these meetings keep energy high. Plus, the weekly rating adds a competitive twist—who doesn’t want to be part of a 10/10 meeting? It’s like turning your team’s time together into something you actually look forward to.

It’s not just about plowing through an agenda; it’s about making the time worthwhile, interactive, and even a little fun. It’s the kind of meeting where someone might say, “Hey, that wasn’t half bad,” instead of the usual “Well, there’s 90 minutes we’ll never get back.”

The Bottom Line

Level 10 meetings don’t just make your team more productive—they make meetings enjoyable (yes, it’s possible). They bring structure, accountability, and engagement into the mix while cutting out the time-wasters. Whether it’s the clear agenda, the focus on solving real issues, or the fact that everyone’s actually engaged, these meetings are a total game-changer.

So if your meetings feel like they’re stuck in an endless cycle of “we’ll get to that later,” give the Level 10 format a shot. It could turn your team’s most dreaded hour into something that’s not just efficient but actually fun—and that’s a win all around.