Last week, during our Level 10 Meeting at Sherwood Foundry, we had one of those conversations.
The sort that nobody particularly looks forward to.
The sort that, if you’re honest, you’ve probably been avoiding for a little while because everyone is busy, everyone has good intentions, & nothing is actually “broken”.
Until you finally realise something isn’t quite right.
We have clearly defined both of the Visionary roles & the Integrator role on the Accountability Chart. On paper, it should work brilliantly.
Instead, I’d found myself becoming increasingly frustrated.
Our Integrator was becoming frustrated too.
Neither of us was wrong.
But neither of us was really understanding what the other was experiencing.
As we unpacked it, something became obvious.
I was looking at the business through the eyes of a Visionary.
Our Integrator was looking at it through the eyes of someone trying to bring that vision to life.
The problem wasn’t trust. The problem wasn’t capability.
The problem was clarity.
I’d started stepping back into areas that I’d already handed over.
Not because I didn’t trust our Integrator.
Because I cared deeply about the outcome.
From my perspective, I was helping.
From their perspective, I was making it harder to do the job I’d asked them to do.
At the same time, there were moments where our Integrator had started making decisions that felt like they were shaping the direction of the business rather than executing the direction we’d already agreed.
Again, not because they were trying to take over.
Because they cared deeply about the business succeeding.
Neither of us had bad intentions.
We simply had different interpretations of where one role ended & the other began.
As we talked it through, the tension disappeared.
Not because one of us won the argument.
Because we both gained clarity.
One of the phrases you’ll often hear me say is clarity creates confidence.
I’ve always believed it.
Last week’s meeting reminded me why.
Once we became clear about our respective roles, confidence immediately returned.
Confidence in each other. Confidence in the decisions being made.
Confidence that we were back on the same team, pulling in the same direction.
It’s something I’m seeing quite a bit at the moment with Visionaries & Integrators.
Sometimes the Integrator becomes so focused on running the business that the Visionary starts feeling locked out.
Sometimes the Visionary continues to ride over the top of the Integrator, unintentionally undermining the very person they’ve asked to lead execution.
Neither approach works.
An Integrator isn’t there to become the Visionary.
Nor are they there simply to carry out instructions.
Their role is to bring the company’s vision to life by creating alignment, accountability & execution.
Equally, a Visionary can’t expect an Integrator to lead while continuing to override every important decision.
The healthiest partnerships I’ve worked with aren’t built because they always agree.
They’re built because they know which conversations to have, when to have them & they have enough trust to be completely honest with each other.
That’s exactly why Adam & I describe ourselves as Carefrontational Changemakers™.
The caring part means we genuinely want people to succeed.
The confrontational part means we’re prepared to have the conversations that others often avoid.
Because those conversations create clarity.
And clarity creates confidence.
If there’s one lesson I took away from last week’s meeting, it’s this.
Even coaches need coaching.
Even businesses that help other businesses grow have moments where roles become blurred.
The difference isn’t whether it happens.
The difference is whether you’re prepared to sit down, have the conversation & come out the other side with greater understanding than you had going in.
Our meeting didn’t just solve an issue.
It strengthened a relationship.
And I suspect we’ll be a much better Visionary & Integrator partnership because of it.
This section gives you quick access to 3 links - to articles, blogs, podcasts & stuff that will help you to create a better business & lead a better life.
Learn how to let go of control to strengthen team dynamics.
Unlock growth by cultivating a powerful V/I partnership.
Improve your sleep quality using these 15 simple hacks.
We are here to help you live a better life by creating a better business. We are real-life business owners with years of experience & a strong desire to make a huge difference to the lives of entrepreneurs.
If anything here resonates with you or you would like our help, then please get in contact. Just reply to this newsletter & let us know who you would like to speak to…. Or visit our webpage & contact any of our team from their own pages.
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If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business, then book a free Discovery Call with me.
We’ll talk about what you want to get from your business & your life & come up with a plan to do that!
Debra Chantry-Taylor
Certified EOS Implementer | Accredited Family Business Advisor | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker & Workshop Facilitator
