The most effective partnerships happen when each role stays focused on its highest-value contribution.
FOUNDER
INTEGRATOR
Entrepreneurial spark plug Passion & inspiration provider Generator of new ideas & breakthroughs Creator & champion of the company vision Big creative problem solver Engager of big external relationships Closer of big deals Learner, researcher & discoverer R&D for new products & services Strategic thinker, sees the whole picture Industry pulse keeper Culture creator & protector Customer engagement when vision is needed Connector of dots across the business Finding & recruiting key leadership talent Company’s public face & external voice Driver of innovation & new market opportunities Source of energy & momentum Setting the 10-year vision & long-range targets Identifying & capitalising on strategic opportunities Selling & advocating for the company externally Teaching & inspiring through vision & storytelling Protecting the Core Focus from distraction Championing Core Values Deciding on company pivots & bold strategic moves
Leading, managing & holding people accountable (LMA) Running day-to-day operations Executing the business plan Owning Profit & Loss results Integrating all major business functions Removing obstacles so the team can execute Creating organisational clarity & communication Tiebreaker (making the call when the team is divided) Driving consistent cadence & steady drumbeat Filtering & prioritising the Visionary’s ideas Managing all major organisational projects Ensuring follow-through on priorities Keeping all arrows pointed in the same direction Ensuring the operating system is followed by all Managing & developing the leadership team Setting & aligning team priorities (Rocks) Running the Meeting Pulse (L10s, quarterlies) Delivering the Scorecard & holding the data Making tough personnel decisions Ensuring cross-functional communication Resolving conflict & friction between departments Harnessing Visionary energy into executable plans Enforcing the Accountability Chart Managing the Same Page Meeting with the Visionary Keeping the business plan on track & reporting progress
*Adapted from from the Visionary/Integrator framework developed by Mark C. Winters, co-author of Rocket Fuel.
