We just hired our first external Integrator, but my leadership team is still coming to me for final approval on operational decisions. How do I structurally redirect them to the new Integrator seat without looking like I have checked out?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Hiring an external Integrator marks a significant step, but your leadership team might initially bypass them, accustomed to your direct involvement and quick decisions. Continuing to provide direct answers will undermine your new Integrator's authority and hinder their success. Your primary goal is to train your team to respect the Accountability Chart.

Redirecting Decisions

When a team member approaches you for a decision that now falls under the Integrator's purview, follow these steps:

• Ask a simple question: "Have you talked to the Integrator about this?"
• If the answer is no, politely inform them that the Integrator owns that decision.
• Redirect them immediately to the Integrator. This firm but polite redirection is crucial for establishing the Integrator's authority.

This process ensures that the Accountability Chart becomes the guiding structure for decision-making.

Setting Clear Boundaries in Meetings

You must also establish clear boundaries during your Level 10 Meeting. This is a prime opportunity to reinforce the new structure.

• Communicate the Integrator's role: Clearly state to the team that the Integrator is responsible for running the business and executing the plan.
• Define your Visionary role: Explain that your role as Visionary is to focus on big ideas, key relationships, and culture, not day-to-day operations. This demarcation helps clarify responsibilities and allows the Integrator to lead effectively. Understanding this distinction is vital for how the Visionary and Integrator handle a disagreement when they are completely deadlocked on a major strategic decision, as their roles are distinct but complementary [How do the Visionary and Integrator handle a disagreement when they are completely deadlocked on a major strategic decision?](/qa/visionary-integrator-deadlock-resolution).

Building Team Acceptance

Ensuring your team understands the rationale behind this shift is key.

• Clarify intent: Explain that redirecting them is not "checking out"; it is allowing the organizational structure to work. When you step back, you empower the Integrator to lead.
• Maintain alignment: Use your weekly Same Page Meeting with the Integrator to stay aligned on decisions and direction. This regular communication ensures you can confidently support their decisions in front of the team.
• Present a united front: If you and the Integrator consistently demonstrate a united front, the team will quickly adapt to the new reporting structure. They will naturally start looking to the Integrator for daily operational guidance, understanding that this clear division of labor optimizes the business's overall functioning. This transition is essential for any owner currently stuck running the daily operations, who needs to find and transition the daily reins to an Integrator without disrupting the company [I am the founder and visionary but I am stuck running the daily operations because I do not have a true Integrator. How do I find and transition the daily reins to an Integrator without disrupting the company?](/qa/transitioning-from-visionary-to-integrator).

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