I’ve seen this happen in countless leadership teams.
They’re running their meetings.
They’ve got an Issues List.
They’re discussing things openly.
And yet, week after week, the list never seems to get any shorter.
In fact, sometimes it feels like it’s growing.
Leaders often assume this means they simply have a lot going on in the business. Or that new issues are constantly emerging as they grow.
But in most cases, the real reason is much simpler.
The team isn’t actually solving issues.
They’re discussing them.
The Difference Between Talking About Issues and Solving Them
Most leadership teams are good at identifying problems.
They can see where something isn’t working. They can describe the symptoms. They can explain the history.
But describing a problem isn’t the same as solving it.
When teams move straight into discussion without properly identifying the root issue, the conversation stays on the surface. Ideas get shared, opinions get aired, & everyone leaves the room feeling like progress was made.
Then the same issue reappears the following week.
Not because people didn’t care.
Because the real problem was never addressed.
Why Issues Keep Coming Back
There are a few patterns I see repeatedly when Issues Lists refuse to shrink.
- Teams try to solve too many things at once. When the list is long, the temptation is to move quickly through several topics rather than slowing down and solving one properly.
- Conversations stay focused on symptoms. Teams debate what happened instead of identifying why it happened.
- Decisions get softened. Instead of committing to a clear solution and owner, teams leave the meeting with something vague like “we’ll look into it” or “let’s monitor it”.
Vague decisions don’t remove issues. They postpone them.
What Proper IDS Looks Like
The EOS tool that fixes this is IDS:
- Identify
- Discuss
- Solve
Identify is where most teams rush.
It’s tempting to jump straight into discussion, but that usually means solving the wrong problem. The first few minutes should be spent clarifying the real issue behind the symptom.
For example, a missed deadline might initially look like a performance issue. But after identifying properly, it might turn out to be unclear ownership or a broken process.
Once the real issue is clear, discussion becomes far more focused.
Solve requires commitment. Not just ideas, but a clear decision about what will change and who owns the outcome.
That’s the point where issues actually leave the list.
Why Leaders Sometimes Avoid Solving Issues Properly
Good leadership teams care about relationships. They want people to feel respected & heard.
Sometimes that leads to softer conversations.
Leaders might hesitate to challenge an assumption, question a process, or name a role problem because it feels uncomfortable.
But avoiding the real issue doesn’t protect the team. It simply ensures the same conversation happens again next week.
Strong teams learn that solving issues respectfully is far healthier than repeatedly circling them.
What Happens When Teams Get This Right
When leadership teams slow down & use IDS properly, something shifts.
- The Issues List starts shrinking.
- Meetings feel more productive.
- The same problems stop resurfacing.
Over time, leaders also start recognising patterns earlier. Instead of waiting for an issue to become urgent, they identify & solve it before it spreads.
That’s where EOS really starts creating traction.
A Simple Test for Your Next Meeting
If your Issues List keeps growing, try this in your next leadership meeting.
Instead of trying to cover multiple issues, choose one or two and solve them completely.
Ask yourselves:
- Have we identified the real issue?
- Have we agreed on a clear solution?
- Does one person own the next step?
If the answer to those questions is yes, the issue should leave the list.
And if it comes back next week, it’s a sign the root cause still hasn’t been addressed.
Why This Matters
An Issues List isn’t supposed to be a permanent record of problems.
It’s a tool for clearing obstacles so the business can move forward.
When teams learn to truly solve issues instead of simply discussing them, meetings become lighter, decisions get faster, & leadership energy shifts from firefighting to progress.
And that’s exactly what EOS is designed to create.