EOS for MSPs: How to Run Effective Level 10 Meetings
Updated: Aug 14
▶️ Watch: Level 10 Meetings for MSPs
Prefer to read? The key ideas from the video are expanded below.
If I had to pick just one part of EOS for a company to implement, it would be the Level 10 Meeting. To me, this is the heartbeat of the whole system.
Why? Because this one change can take you from a scrambly, reactive company to an intentional one that’s making real improvements every single week.
Gino Wickman, in Traction, explains that companies that only react in the moment never really fix problems. They just slap on bandages, and over time, you end up with an MSP held together with duct tape. Level 10s are designed to break that cycle. They give you a consistent rhythm to solve issues at the root and to keep moving forward.
Start by Following the EOS Agenda
Level 10s follow a very specific, prescribed agenda — and I strongly recommend starting out by sticking to it exactly as written. Once your team gets the rhythm down, you can adapt it. But at first, don’t improvise. Just follow the recipe.
At NodeWise CPA, our agenda looks almost exactly like the book’s version, with just a couple of tweaks we’ve found valuable as a remote team.
How We Adapt Level 10s for a Remote Team
Because we’re remote, people don’t get that natural mental reset of walking to a conference room. So we start by reminding everyone not to multitask. Then we all go off camera for a one-minute breathing exercise. It’s simple — just deep breaths to reset. But it makes a huge difference in helping people show up fully present.
We also use a Brené Brown-inspired segue. In the opening segue, we have everyone share one positive work thing and one positive personal thing from the past week, or something coming up they’re excited about.
It doesn’t have to be huge — it could be as small as enjoying a great cup of coffee, or as big as a child getting married.
It helps people reset, notice what’s going well, and come into the problem-solving part of the meeting more present. Over time, it builds a more positive, connected atmosphere.
Define the Moderator and Scribe Roles
Level 10s work best when two roles are clearly defined.
The moderator runs the meeting and keeps things on track. And here’s an important tip: if you’re the owner, don’t assume you should always be the moderator. Often, it’s better if someone else leads.
In our firm, my COO has often led. I’ll lead sometimes too, and we intentionally rotate other team members in after they’ve experienced several Level 10s. It’s a fantastic leadership development tool. The key is to pick someone who is organized and willing to politely interrupt and redirect when needed.
The scribe documents new to-dos as they come up. It’s critical that they write them down thoroughly, so a week later everyone remembers exactly what was decided.
After the meeting, the scribe sends out a recap of the new to-dos, who’s responsible for them, and rolls the agenda forward to the next week. That way, accountability carries over seamlessly.
Having a dedicated scribe frees up the moderator to focus fully on leading instead of trying to juggle note-taking.
Keep a Living Agenda All Week
Another key tip: keep your agenda in a place everyone can access all week. That way, if someone has an idea, a headline, or an issue, they don’t need to interrupt in the moment. They can just drop it into the agenda.
This practice cuts down on noise and chatter during the week. And it reassures people that their voice will be heard — their idea or concern is literally on the list for discussion.
As an owner, you’ll often be surprised by the good ideas that surface here, ones you wouldn’t have thought of yourself.
IDS: Identify, Discuss, Solve
For me, IDS is where the meeting becomes most valuable. Even if you only solved one IDS issue per week, by the end of the year you’d have 50 meaningful problems or opportunities addressed — things that otherwise might have lingered unresolved.
Sometimes these are operational problems. Sometimes they’re new ideas to consider. Either way, the discipline of working through IDS every week creates steady, compounding progress.
Build Accountability Into the Weekly Rhythm
Finally, Level 10s bake accountability into the culture. Every week, you review the scorecard — your key numbers — your Rocks, or 90-day priorities, and the to-dos from last week.
And one of my favorite reminders: done 10 minutes before the meeting still counts as done.
The goal isn’t when you did it — it’s that you actually delivered. That’s what moves the company forward.
Level 10 Meetings Are About Progress, Not More Meetings
At the end of the day, Level 10s aren’t about having another meeting. They’re about getting things done and solving real issues.
They really are the heartbeat of EOS. And if you only implement one piece of the system, start here.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice. Every business is different, and you should talk with your own professional about what makes sense for your situation.
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