The L10 meeting agenda is a fixed, 60-minute weekly meeting format used by EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) companies, consisting of six standard segments: the 5-15 minute “Good News” round, a 5-minute “To-Do List” review, a 5-minute “Customer/Employee Headlines” update, a 15-minute “Issues Solving” session, a 5-minute “To-Do List” assignment, and a 5-minute “Metrics” review. It is designed to surface and solve issues quickly, keeping the leadership team aligned and accountable.
Background: What is an L10 Meeting?
The L10 (Level 10) meeting is a core component of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a management framework developed by Gino Wickman and detailed in his book “Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business.” The name “L10” refers to the goal of keeping the meeting’s energy and engagement at a “Level 10” on a scale of 1 to 10. The meeting is meant to be highly focused, efficient, and solution-oriented, replacing the common, unproductive “status update” meetings that many teams experience.
Unlike traditional staff meetings that can drag on or get sidetracked, the L10 meeting has a rigid structure and a strict 90-minute maximum time limit (though the standard is 60 minutes). It is typically held weekly, at the same time and place, and is attended by the leadership team—usually the owner/CEO and their direct reports. The agenda is designed to force the team to address the most important issues first, rather than getting bogged down in minor details or long-winded updates.
How the L10 Agenda Works: The Six Segments
The L10 meeting agenda is broken into six distinct segments, each with a specific purpose and time allocation. The entire meeting is facilitated by the “Integrator” (or the leader if there is no Integrator) to keep the team on track and on time.
- Good News (5-15 minutes): Each attendee shares one piece of good news, either personal or professional. This sets a positive tone and builds camaraderie.
- To-Do List Review (5 minutes): The team reviews the to-do list from the previous week’s meeting. Each item is marked as done or not done. Incomplete items are either carried over or removed, and the responsible person must explain why it wasn’t completed.
- Customer/Employee Headlines (5 minutes): Each person shares any significant news about customers or employees, such as a major complaint, a win, a new hire, or a departure. This keeps the team informed about the human side of the business.
- Issues Solving (15-60 minutes): This is the core of the meeting. The team creates a list of issues (problems, opportunities, concerns) from the previous segments and any new ones. The facilitator then leads the team through the “IDS” process: Identify the root cause, Discuss possible solutions, and Solve by assigning a specific action item. The goal is to solve the most important issue first, not to discuss everything.
- To-Do List Assignment (5 minutes): After solving issues, new to-do items are assigned. Each item must have a single owner and a specific due date. These are added to the master to-do list.
- Metrics Review (5 minutes): The team reviews the company’s key metrics (e.g., revenue, profit, customer satisfaction) against the target. Any metric that is off track is added to the issues list for the next meeting.
How to Choose the Right L10 Agenda Format
While the L10 meeting has a standard structure, there are variations in how it is executed. The key is to choose the format that best fits your team’s size and culture.
- Standard 60-Minute Format: This is the classic L10 meeting, ideal for leadership teams of 4-10 people. It allocates 15 minutes to issues solving, which is usually enough for a few major issues.
- Extended 90-Minute Format: If your team has many complex issues or is larger, you may need to extend the issues-solving segment to 45-60 minutes. This is still a “Level 10” meeting as long as the structure is maintained.
- Virtual L10 Meetings: Many teams now run L10 meetings remotely using video conferencing. The agenda remains the same, but the facilitator must be more disciplined to ensure everyone participates and the meeting stays on track.
When choosing a format, consider the size of your team, the complexity of your business, and the number of issues that typically arise. The goal is to solve issues, not to fill time, so adjust the time allocations as needed.
Common Problems and How to Avoid Them
Even with a clear agenda, L10 meetings can fail if the team doesn’t follow the rules. Here are common pitfalls and their solutions:
- Lack of Discipline: The biggest problem is letting the meeting drift into open discussion. The facilitator must enforce the time limits and the “issues” list. If an issue can’t be solved in the allotted time, it should be moved to a separate “issues” list for a dedicated problem-solving session.
- Not Using the To-Do List: If to-do items are not tracked and followed up, the meeting loses its accountability. Use a simple spreadsheet or a project management tool to track all action items.
- Too Many Issues: Trying to solve every issue in one meeting is impossible. The team should prioritize and solve only the top 1-3 issues per meeting. The rest are held for the next week.
- Status Updates Instead of Problem Solving: The L10 meeting is not for status updates; it’s for solving problems. If a team member is just reporting progress, they should do that in a separate one-on-one or via email.
L10 Meeting Agenda Template
Below is a blank template you can use to structure your own L10 meeting. Simply fill in the fields with your team’s information.
| Segment | Time (min) | Details / Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Good News | 5-15 | Each person shares one piece of good news. |
| To-Do List Review | 5 | Review last week’s to-dos. Mark done/not done. |
| Customer/Employee Headlines | 5 | Major customer or employee news. |
| Issues Solving | 15-60 | List issues, identify root cause, discuss, solve. |
| To-Do List Assignment | 5 | Assign new to-dos with owner and due date. |
| Metrics Review | 5 | Review key metrics vs. targets. |
Sample (fictional): Team: Acme Widgets – Date: 2025-04-10 – Good News: “Signed a new contract with XYZ Corp.” – To-Do: “Update pricing sheet” (Owner: John, Due: 4/15) – Headline: “Customer complaint about shipping delays” – Issue: “Shipping costs too high” – Solution: “Negotiate with FedEx” – Metric: Revenue $1.2M vs target $1.5M (off track).
Costs and Tools for Running an L10 Meeting
The L10 meeting itself is free—it’s just a meeting. However, there are costs associated with implementing EOS, which includes L10 meetings. Many companies hire an EOS implementer (a certified coach) to help them get started. The cost of an implementer varies widely depending on the size of the company and the scope of the engagement, but it can range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands for ongoing coaching.
There are also software tools designed to support EOS and L10 meetings. Some popular ones include EOS One, a dedicated app, and various project management tools like Asana or Trello that can be adapted to track to-dos and metrics. These tools typically have monthly subscription fees, but they can help streamline the meeting process and improve accountability.
Alternatives to the L10 Meeting
While the L10 meeting is highly effective for many companies, it is not the only way to run a leadership team meeting. Some alternatives include:
- Scrum/Agile Stand-ups: Daily 15-minute meetings focused on what was done yesterday, what is planned today, and any blockers. This is more frequent but less deep.
- OKR (Objectives and Key Results) Meetings: Weekly meetings focused on tracking progress toward quarterly objectives and key results. These are more strategic and less issue-oriented.
- Traditional Staff Meetings: Often unstructured, with updates from each department. This can work for small teams but often lacks accountability.
The right choice depends on your company’s culture, size, and goals. The L10 meeting is particularly good for companies that need to solve problems quickly and hold leaders accountable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “L10” stand for?
“L10” stands for “Level 10,” referring to the goal of keeping the meeting’s energy and engagement at a 10 out of 10. It’s a metaphor for a highly effective, high-energy meeting.
How long should an L10 meeting last?
The standard L10 meeting is 60 minutes, but it can be extended to 90 minutes if needed. The key is to stick to the time limits for each segment to ensure the meeting stays focused.
Who should attend the L10 meeting?
The L10 meeting is typically for the leadership team—the owner/CEO and their direct reports. It’s not for all employees, as the focus is on company-wide issues and metrics.
Can I run an L10 meeting without implementing EOS?
Yes, you can adopt the L10 meeting structure without fully implementing EOS. Many teams use the agenda as a standalone tool to improve their weekly meetings. However, to get the full benefit, it’s recommended to integrate it with the other EOS components like the V/TO (Vision/Traction Organizer) and the Accountability Chart.
What if we run out of issues to solve?
If you have no issues, that’s great! You can shorten the meeting or use the time to review metrics more deeply. However, it’s rare to have no issues; if you do, it may be a sign that the team isn’t being fully honest about problems.