L10™ Meeting Guide with Agenda
Effective meetings are the backbone of execution for leadership teams. But not all meetings are created equal. That’s why the Level 10™ Meeting (L10™)—a core discipline of the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®)—has become a go-to format for teams that want clarity, alignment, and results.
This article will walk you through what an L10™ meeting is, why it works, the standard agenda, best practices, and how GCE Strategic Consulting helps teams turn meetings into strategic momentum.
What Exactly Is an L10™ Meeting?
An L10™ meeting is a structured, agenda-driven format designed to enhance team communication and productivity. Held weekly and lasting 90 minutes, it gives leadership teams a consistent forum to stay focused, solve problems, and move the business forward.
The name “Level 10” comes from the practice of scoring each meeting from 1 to 10—based on how effective it was. The goal is to run a meeting that truly earns a 10.
Key Features of an L10™ Meeting
L10s are practical, high-value meetings that shift teams from updates to execution—and that effectiveness begins with a few essential fundamentals. Below are the core elements that define the L10™ format and set it apart as a powerful tool for operational excellence.
Structured Agenda
The L10™ meeting follows the same agenda every week—on purpose. This structured agenda eliminates guesswork, sets clear expectations, and helps teams stay focused. When every meeting follows a predictable rhythm, team members know how to prepare, what’s expected of them, and how to contribute meaningfully. It also avoids drifting into low-value updates or vague brainstorming.
Weekly Cadence
Rather than sporadic check-ins or ad-hoc problem-solving, the L10™ provides a weekly cadence that creates consistency across the leadership team. This rhythm is key to maintaining traction. It ensures issues don’t sit unresolved for weeks and that priorities remain top of mind. Over time, the cadence builds a culture of accountability and proactivity.
Scorecard Metrics
Each week begins with a review of the team’s Scorecard—a set of 5 to 15 key performance indicators that reflect the health of the business. These aren’t vanity metrics—they’re carefully chosen indicators that alert the team early if something is off track. If a number misses its target, it’s not explained or defended—it simply gets dropped into the IDS section for discussion and resolution.
To-Do Reviews
Accountability thrives on follow-through. The L10™ includes a weekly review of the team’s To-Do List, where each action item from the prior meeting is marked either “done” or “not done.” This binary check-in eliminates ambiguity. There's no debating why something didn’t get done—only an acknowledgment and an opportunity to solve obstacles in IDS if needed.
Rocks
Every quarter, teams set 3–7 priority goals known as Rocks. These are the strategic outcomes that move the business forward, and each Rock has a clear owner. During the L10™, the Rock Review provides a quick pulse check—each Rock is marked “on track” or “off track.” This helps the team course-correct throughout the quarter and ensure long-term initiatives don’t get lost in the day-to-day.
IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve)
The heart of the L10™, IDS is where real value is created. Teams bring up their most pressing issues—whether operational, strategic, or people-related—and use a methodical process to resolve them. First, you Identify the root cause of the issue. Then you Discuss it with clarity and candor. Finally, you Solve it—deciding on a concrete next step or permanent fix. IDS trains teams to think critically and act decisively.
Meeting Rating
At the end of each meeting, every participant scores the session from 1 to 10. This simple feedback loop holds everyone accountable for improving the experience. If meetings drop below a consistent “8,” it signals a need for adjustment—whether in preparation, facilitation, or participation. This habit of scoring drives continuous improvement, and over time, it becomes part of your leadership culture.
The Purpose Of An L10™ Meeting
L10™ meetings exist to keep leadership teams focused on long-term priorities while solving real-time challenges. When used consistently, they help leadership teams:
Stay aligned on the most important goals.
Identify and resolve the root causes of obstacles.
Maintain visibility across functional teams.
Build a rhythm of communication and accountability.
Without a disciplined forum like the L10™, it’s easy for teams to drift into unproductive meetings or operate in silos. The L10™ ensures everyone is on the same page—and moving in the same direction.
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How Many People Should Attend a Level 10™ Meeting?
The ideal group size is 5 to 7 participants. This usually includes the Visionary, Integrator, and key departmental leaders. Everyone should be empowered to speak openly, solve issues, and commit to action.
Too few participants can lead to lack of cross-functional insight. Too many can lead to unnecessary discussion and lower accountability. Keep it tight and impactful.
Typical EOS® L10™ Meeting Agenda
Below is the standard EOS® L10™ meeting agenda, refined through years of experience.
Check-In (Segue) — 5 minutes — Each team member shares one personal and one business win from the past week to connect and refocus.
Scorecard Review — 5 minutes — Track key performance metrics. Each owner gives a quick “on track” or “off track.” No discussion—issues go to the Issues List.
Quarterly Goals/Rock Review — 5 minutes — Confirm quarterly Rocks are “on track” or “off track.” Minimal conversation unless added to IDS. Need help with Rocks? See examples of EOS® rocks.
Customer or Employee Headlines — 5 minutes — Share important news—good or bad—about clients or team members. Drop anything urgent to the Issues List.
To-Do List Review — 5 minutes — Review action items from the last meeting. Each one is either “done” or “not done.”
IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) — 60 minutes — Prioritize and solve top 3 issues using the IDS model. Stay focused and aim to fully resolve each.
Conclusion — 5 minutes — Review new to-dos, confirm messages to cascade, and rate the meeting from 1 to 10. This promotes feedback and continuous improvement.
Want to measure how your team’s communication is trending? Use the EOS® Meeting Pulse tool to track progress over time.
Why Should You Implement Level 10™ Meetings?
Adopting the L10™ meeting format is both a process change and a mindset shift. When consistently applied, it helps leadership teams get aligned, gain clarity, and accelerate execution. Here’s how the L10™ meeting creates measurable impact for companies committed to operating at a higher level.
For Enhanced Focus — The structured agenda and fixed cadence eliminate sidebars, wasted time, and unclear outcomes.
Helps Keep Track of Goals — With weekly Scorecard and Rock Reviews, you always know where you stand. No surprises at quarter-end.
Streamlines Flow Of Meetings — Each section has a time limit. The meeting follows a repeatable process, reducing decision fatigue and improving quality.
They Are Great For Problem-Solving — The 60-minute IDS block is where the real value lies. Teams that consistently use IDS resolve long-standing issues and unlock execution.
They Allow Fast And Effective Collaboration — By focusing on key discussions and solving real issues, L10s improve team communication and collaboration. They enable quick alignment without follow-up meetings.
For Increased Accountability — When you revisit metrics and action items each week—and rate the meeting—you build discipline and ensure accountability across the team.
Level 10™ Meeting Best Practices
Even the most well-designed systems need to be implemented thoughtfully. To get the most out of your L10™ meetings—and to avoid falling into rote execution—it’s essential to reinforce the right habits. These best practices will help you keep your meetings sharp, focused, and high-impact week after week.
Start And End On Time — Punctuality reinforces the seriousness of the meeting. Start on time, even if only one person is present.
Use The Same Meeting Agenda Every Week — The level 10 meeting agenda is sacred. Don’t change the format. Predictability increases prep and participation.
The Meeting Should Be Always On The Same Day And Time — Repetition creates rhythm. L10s should never be rescheduled unless absolutely necessary.
Preparing for a Successful L10™ Meeting
Great meetings start with preparation—not just presence. To have an effective meeting, ensure:
Scorecards are updated before the meeting.
To-Dos from the previous week are reviewed.
Issues List is prioritized.
Rocks are reviewed in advance.
Need support? GCE’s strategic Coaching & Consulting Services help leadership teams build meeting prep routines that sustain execution.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even good L10s can go stale. Here are some red flags and how to address them:
Overloaded Issues List: Limit IDS to 3–5 items max. Prioritize with discipline.
Unprepared Team Members: Reinforce pre-meeting prep in your company norms.
Scorecard Drift: Revisit KPIs quarterly to ensure you’re tracking what matters.
No Facilitator or Scribe: Assign clear roles every week to keep the meeting sharp.
Working with an outside coach like GCE can help your team spot and fix these issues early.
Meetings That Make Sense: Improve Your Level 10™ Meetings
If you’re implementing L10s but not gaining traction—maybe your IDS segment is weak, your team shows up unprepared, or accountability is slipping—it may be time to bring in a partner who can facilitate with precision.
At GCE, we’ve facilitated hundreds of Level 10™ Meetings. As the first Bridge Integrator firm, our experienced team of fractional leaders specializes in aligning Visionaries and Integrators, refining Rocks, and helping teams stay aligned and accountable. Through our Fractional Integrator Services, we pair experienced leaders with teams to optimize EOS® meeting rhythms and improve your team’s productivity every week.
Final Thoughts
The L10™ Meeting isn’t just a meeting. It’s a leadership discipline that drives accountability, alignment, and clarity.
If you're ready to stop spinning your wheels in unproductive meetings and start running a high-performance team, GCE can help you turn L10s into a cornerstone of your growth strategy.
Let’s make your next meeting a Level 10. Reach out to GCE Strategic Consulting today.