The Level 10 Meeting Template
If your weekly team meetings feel like a waste of time, you’re not alone.
Most meetings drift. They lack structure, run long, and rarely lead to clear action. Leaders walk out frustrated. Teams feel unheard. And nothing really changes.
That’s exactly why the Level 10 Meeting exists.
Originally developed as part of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), this meeting framework is designed to turn chaos into clarity—fast.
In this guide, you’ll learn:
- What a Level 10 Meeting is
- Where it comes from
- Why it works so well
- The pros and cons (realistically, not sugar-coated)
- How to run one step-by-step
- A ready-to-use Level 10 Meeting template
If you lead a team, this is one of the highest ROI habits you can implement.
What Is a Level 10 Meeting?
A Level 10 Meeting is a structured weekly meeting designed to:
- Keep teams aligned
- Solve real problems
- Drive accountability
- Improve execution
The “Level 10” part comes from rating the meeting at the end—on a scale from 1 to 10. The goal is simple: run a meeting so effective that it earns a 10.
Unlike typical meetings, this one:
- Has a fixed agenda
- Follows strict timing
- Focuses on solving issues not just discussing them
This isn’t about talking more. It’s about executing better.
Where Did Level 10 Meetings Come From?
Level 10 Meetings are a core component of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), created by entrepreneur and author Gino Wickman.
EOS was built to help businesses:
- Clarify vision
- Improve traction (execution)
- Build healthy teams
The Level 10 Meeting is the weekly heartbeat of that system.
Think of it like this:
- Your strategy sets direction
- Your KPIs measure progress
- Your Level 10 Meeting ensures things actually happen
Without it, most teams stall.
Why Most Meetings Fail (And Why Level 10 Doesn’t)
Before you adopt this system, you need to understand why most meetings suck.
The Problem With Traditional Meetings:
- No clear structure
- Too many topics
- No ownership
- No follow-up
- No real problem-solving
They become:
“Status updates disguised as productivity”
What Level 10 Meetings Fix:
- Forces prioritization
- Encourages accountability
- Eliminates fluff
- Focuses on real issues
This is where most leaders get it wrong—they think meetings are for updates.
They’re not.
Meetings are for solving problems.
The Level 10 Meeting Structure (Step-by-Step)
A proper Level 10 Meeting runs 90 minutes and follows a strict agenda.
1. Segue (5 Minutes)
Quick personal and professional wins.
Purpose:
- Build team connection
- Set a positive tone
Example:
- “Best personal win this week?”
- “Biggest work win?”
👉 Keep it quick. This is not story time.
2. Scorecard Review (5 Minutes)
Review key metrics.
Purpose:
- Spot issues early
- Track performance objectively
Example metrics:
- Revenue
- Leads
- Hours billed
- Customer churn
- Employee utilization
If a number is off → it becomes an issue.
3. Rock Review (5 Minutes)
“Rocks” = your top priorities for the quarter.
Each person answers:
- On track or off track?
No long explanations.
4. Customer/Employee Headlines (5 Minutes)
Quick highlights:
- Big wins
- Major concerns
- Feedback
This keeps you connected to reality.
5. To-Do List Review (5 Minutes)
Review last week’s action items.
Each one is:
- Done
- Not done
No excuses. Just clarity.
6. IDS (Identify, Discuss, Solve) – 60 Minutes
This is the core of the meeting.
You:
- Identify issues
- Discuss root causes
- Solve them
This is where real progress happens.
👉 Important rule: Solve, don’t just talk.
7. Conclude (5 Minutes)
Wrap up:
- Confirm new to-dos
- Review cascading messages
- Rate the meeting (1–10)
Level 10 Meeting Template (Word Format)
Copy this into a Word document:
LEVEL 10 MEETING AGENDA
Company Name: Team: Date: Facilitator:
1. Segue (5 Minutes)
- Personal Win:
- Professional Win:
2. Scorecard Review (5 Minutes)
Metric
Goal
Actual
Status
Notes
3. Rock Review (5 Minutes)
Team Member
Rock Status (On/Off Track)
Notes
4. Headlines (5 Minutes)
- Customer Updates:
- Employee Updates:
5. To-Do List (5 Minutes)
Task
Owner
Due Date
Status
6. IDS – Issues List (60 Minutes)
Issue
Owner
Priority
Resolution
7. Conclude (5 Minutes)
- New To-Dos:
- Key Messages to Share:
- Meeting Rating (1–10):
The Benefits of Level 10 Meetings
Let’s be clear, this system works.
1. Clarity
Everyone knows:
- What matters
- What’s broken
- What needs to happen
No guessing.
2. Accountability
There’s nowhere to hide.
If something isn’t done it’s visible.
That alone changes behavior.
3. Faster Problem Solving
Instead of dragging issues out for weeks:
- You address them weekly
- You solve them quickly
4. Better Alignment
Everyone is focused on:
- The same goals
- The same priorities
5. Time Efficiency
Yes, it’s 90 minutes but:
- Less wasted time outside meetings
- Fewer follow-ups
- Less confusion
The Drawbacks (Real Talk)
This isn’t perfect and if you implement it wrong, it will fail.
1. Feels Rigid at First
Teams resist structure.
They’ll say:
- “This feels scripted”
- “We need more flexibility”
Stick with it.
Structure creates freedom over time.
2. Requires Discipline
You must:
- Stay on time
- Follow the agenda
- Cut off rambling
If you don’t enforce it—it breaks.
3. Can Feel Repetitive
Same agenda every week.
That’s intentional.
Repetition = consistency.
4. Bad Leadership = Bad Meeting
If the leader:
- Avoids tough conversations
- Doesn’t enforce accountability
The meeting becomes useless.
5. Not Ideal for Creative Brainstorming
This is not a free-flow ideation session.
It’s execution-focused.
Who Should Use Level 10 Meetings?
This works best for:
- CEOs and founders
- Operations leaders
- Product teams
- Growing companies (10–500 employees)
If your business feels:
- Chaotic
- Reactive
- Misaligned
You need this.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
If you take nothing else from this avoid these.
1. Turning IDS into a Discussion Club
Solve the issue. Don’t debate endlessly.
2. Letting People Ramble
Cut it off. Respect time.
3. Skipping the Scorecard
Data drives clarity.
No data = opinions.
4. Not Assigning Owners
Every task needs a name.
5. Not Tracking To-Dos
If it’s not tracked, it won’t happen.
How to Make This Even More Powerful
Here’s where most companies level up.
They stop running this in spreadsheets or notes…
…and start running it inside a system.
Because manually tracking:
- To-dos
- KPIs
- Issues
- Rocks
…gets messy fast.
Bringing It All Together with Updoot
If you’re serious about running a high-performance team, you need more than just a template.
You need a system that connects everything:
- Your team’s time
- Your projects
- Your KPIs
- Your execution
That’s where Updoot comes in.
Instead of:
- Separate spreadsheets
- Scattered notes
- Missed follow-ups
You can:
- Track KPIs in real-time
- Assign and monitor to-dos
- Connect work directly to outcomes
- See exactly what’s getting done
And most importantly:
👉 You move from talking about work to actually executing it
Final Take
A Level 10 Meeting isn’t just a meeting format.
It’s a discipline.
It forces:
- Clarity
- Accountability
- Execution
If you implement it properly, it will completely change how your team operates.
Start with the template.
Run it consistently for 4–6 weeks.
Then decide if your meetings and your business are better.
They will be.
Find more free templates here
Weekly and biweekly meeting agenda template