Why IDS® Deserves More Time

A few years ago, I worked with a business owner who was ready to walk away from the company he built. His calendar was packed with meetings, but he still ended each week facing the same unresolved issues.

We started with his EOS® Level 10 Meetings. His team reviewed the Scorecard, talked through Rocks, and shared Headlines, but they also tried to solve every issue as soon as it came up. By the time they reached IDS®, the hour was nearly gone.

They’d leave the meeting without resolving much. No one was clear on the next step, and by the following week, they were talking about the same issues again.

So we tightened up the front half of the meeting. When something needed more discussion, they didn't talk about it then. Instead they added it to the Issues List and kept moving. That gave them the time they needed to work through the issues in IDS®. A few months later, he told me, “The meetings gave me my business back.”

That’s what a well-run Level 10 Meeting® can do. Each part of the agenda has a purpose, and teams get more value when they use it that way.

Focus Points
“The goal is an 8 or better. Anything less isn't going to get you to great.” - Gino Wickman

How to Run More Effective EOS® Level 10 Meetings

The EOS Level 10 Meeting already gives your team structure. But it  only works when you use that structure with discipline.

In this article, I share the habits I've seen make the biggest difference after facilitating more than 400 session days. They're simple, but they help teams protect IDS, keep meetings focused, and leave with clear decisions instead of unfinished conversations.

EOS Conference 2026
See You at EOS Conference APAC

The Ninety team is heading to the 2026 EOS Conference APAC as this year's Silver Partner. If you'll be there, stop by and meet our team. We'll be talking with EOS Implementers®, leadership teams, and members of the EOS community about what we're building and how teams are using Ninety to support EOS.

Ask Maz Prompt of the Week

"Help me prepare for tomorrow's Level 10 Meeting. What should I review, what should I report, and what should I save for IDS?"

More Leadership Insights

Leading a company? Each week, Ninety Founder and CEO Mark Abbott shares lessons on leadership, culture, and building resilient organizations in Founder’s Framework®.