We just finished our Focus Day™ and built our first Accountability Chart, but my co-founder and I have both been acting as co-CEOs and neither wants to step down to the Integrator seat. How do we resolve this structural deadlock?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Co-leadership is a myth that breeds confusion and execution delays. For an operating system like EOS® to work, you must have absolute clarity on who owns the ultimate accountability for running the daily operations. There can only be one Integrator on the Accountability Chart.

To resolve this deadlock, you and your co-founder must put your egos aside and use the GWC™ assessment to evaluate who is truly wired for each seat.

The Visionary and Integrator are two completely different roles. The Visionary is focused on big ideas, culture, key relationships, and long-term strategy. The Integrator is focused on execution, accountability, harmonizing the leadership team, and running the day-to-day business.

Look closely at your natural conative wiring. Typically, one co-founder has a natural knack for the big picture, while the other is more organized and process-driven.

If both of you truly GWC™ the Visionary seat and neither is a fit for the Integrator role, you must make a hard choice. One of you steps into the Visionary seat, and you hire an external Integrator to run the daily business. What you cannot do is share the Integrator seat, as that will paralyze your leadership team and halt your progress.