I am preparing to step out of the Integrator seat and hire our first full-time Integrator, but I am nervous about handing over the reins too quickly. What exact decision rights and operational authority must belong to the Integrator on day one versus what stays with the Visionary?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

If you do not grant full day-one operational authority to your new Integrator, the leadership team will continue reporting to you, and your new hire will fail. You cannot slowly meter out authority over six months. The seat must be clearly defined before the person walks through the door.

On day one, the five core roles of the Integrator seat must be non-negotiable:
- Leading, managing, and holding people accountable (LMA) for every department head on the leadership team.
- Executing the Business Plan to achieve the revenue and profit targets defined in your V/TO®.
- Integrating cross-functional operations across Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance.
- Leading the weekly Level 10 Meeting™ and driving the Issues Solving Track™ using IDS®.
- Removing operational obstacles and breaking deadlocks across the leadership team.

The Visionary seat retains specific high-level authorities. You own big-picture culture, strategic vendor or buyer relationships, key client development, overall company vision, and major research and development initiatives. You also retain governance authority through your partnership with the Integrator in your weekly Same Page meeting.

The bright line is clear: operational execution belongs entirely to the Integrator on day one. When a department head comes to you asking for permission or complaining about a process change, your only acceptable response is to ask if they have discussed it with the Integrator. If you override the Integrator in hallway conversations, you break the Accountability Chart.