How to Have Productive L10 Meetings (That Actually Move the Needle)

Meetings are the worst part of many peoples weeks. Clients have shared with me time and time again that some days it feels like they are on a treadmill going nowhere as their teams bring up and re-hash the same issues week after week.

A few years ago, one of my clients walked out of what should have been a powerful L10 meeting feeling... drained. Not because they tackled anything difficult, but because they didn’t accomplish much of anything. They spiraled in conversations, ran down rabbit holes, and left without a clear plan of action. Sound familiar?

As a Fractional Integrator, I’ve seen firsthand how a well-run L10 can turn chaos into clarity and momentum. But I’ve also seen how easy it is for them to slide into time-wasters. So, if your weekly meetings feel more like status updates than strategy sessions—let’s fix that.

Here’s how to turn your L10s into powerful, productive 90-minute strategy sessions your team will actually look forward to.

1. Have an Agenda (And Stick to It Like It’s Gospel)

The L10 agenda isn’t just a helpful outline—it’s your guardrail. Follow the sequence:

Segue → Scorecard → Rock Review → To-Do List → IDS → Conclude.

Each section is designed to focus the conversation and ensure the right issues get solved at the right time.

Pro tip: If you’re discussing an issue before you hit IDS, you’re breaking the rules—and wasting time.

2. Same Day. Same Time. No Canceling.

This isn’t optional. L10s are the heartbeat of your leadership team. Set them on the calendar, same time, same place, every week—and honor that commitment. Rescheduling or canceling sends a signal that the business isn’t a priority. That’s not the culture you want to build.

3. Save It for IDS

You’ve got a hot topic bubbling during the Scorecard? Great—write it down and park it for IDS. Don’t derail the flow. Discipline is what separates effective teams from overwhelmed ones. IDS is your space to dig in and solve, but only once the rest of the agenda is complete.

4. Identify. Discuss. Solve. Not Talk in Circles.

IDS isn’t “Identify, Discuss, Stay on the same issue for an hour…” We’re here to solve problems. That means:

• Get to the root cause.

• Have a real, honest discussion.

• Leave with a clear action item, owner, and due date.

If you’re leaving the same issues on the list week after week, something’s broken—probably the honesty or the decision-making.

5. Be Open. Be Honest. Be Brave.

The magic of EOS® lies in radical transparency. If your team isn’t being honest—really honest—you’ll never get to the real issues. Trust is built when people are encouraged to speak up, disagree, and tell the truth (even when it’s uncomfortable). No more tiptoeing.

The Bottom Line

L10s should be energizing, not exhausting. They’re where traction happens. They’re how you align your team, solve the right issues, and keep momentum going quarter after quarter.

When L10s are done right, they become more than just a meeting—they become a ritual of clarity, accountability, and progress. They remind us that structure doesn’t stifle creativity; it channels it. That the right kind of discipline unlocks freedom. And that when a team shows up with honesty and commitment each week, transformation happens—one issue solved, one rock completed, one win celebrated at a time.