A Shared Issues List Gave Us Focus and Results Executive Summary: A leadership team at a 40 person...
Real BOS Results: How Weekly Team Meetings Went from Frustrating to Foundational
A Standard BOS Weekly Team Meeting (WTM) Was A Game Changer
Executive Summary
At a company where I served on the leadership team, Weekly Team Meetings were one of the first things we overhauled as we implemented our Business Operating System. This brought quick results. Team effectiveness increased, real problems were solved, and we had more time in the week for other things.
The Meeting Problem We All Felt
We had a committed leadership team: smart, engaged people. However, our meetings weren't really helping us move forward. They were unfocused, often reactive, and we rarely drove issues to resolution, so we often left with more questions than answers.
I remember walking out of meetings thinking, "Did we actually accomplish anything in all that time spent together?"
The Friction
Here's what wasn't working:
- The agenda was inconsistent, and driven by the needs of the moment
- Status updates dragged on and crowded out real discussion
- Important issues were surfaced, but rarely solved
- We had no mechanism to track or follow up on to-dos
- We rarely aligned our discussions with our company vision and goals
Even with the right people in the room, we weren’t talking about the right problems. What should have been our most valuable team time of the week wasn’t producing valuable results.
The Shift: A Weekly Team Meeting That Worked
As we implemented our BOS, we committed to running a true Weekly Team Meeting (WTM) — one that was structured, consistent, and action-oriented. A place to work ON the business, instead of working IN the business.
The BOS framework we used included a structured 90-minute agenda for Weekly Team Meetings. It gave us a regular framework and rhythm to check on key metrics, track progress on our Rocks, raise and resolve real issues, and ensure to-dos didn't fall through the cracks.
It wasn't complicated. It was consistent, efficient, and effective. And that made all the difference.
What Changed
Within weeks, we noticed:
- Real issues were being addressed and resolved, not just discussed
- There was more accountability, which created more trust within the team
- We were all “rowing in the same direction” which bred enthusiasm and engagement
- Ad hoc meetings during the week were minimized
- Within a few weeks team members scored our meeting 8 & 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.
Why It Worked
The meeting became a forcing function for the things that mattered. Not everything was solved in the room, but everything had a place to land, and nothing important got lost.
We stopped reacting to the business and started running it together.
Looking Back
This change didn't require hiring a new team or running a retreat. It required installing a simple system and sticking with it.
That Weekly Team Meeting became our anchor. It gave us rhythm, accountability, and a sense that we were making a difference and getting the right things done.
What About Your Team?
If your team is stuck in unproductive meetings, there’s a better way. I’ve seen what happens when structure, rhythm, and accountability come together.
I’d be glad to show you how.
Curious about how you can implement the benefits of a BOS in your own business? Let's Talk.