I suspect my leadership team is too dependent on me for every major operational decision. If I am still the hub of our hub-and-spoke model, does this lack of decentralized decision-making mean we are not ready to begin our Focus Day?

This dependency does not mean you are not ready. In fact, it is the primary reason you must start. Most founders who operate as the hub of a hub-and-spoke model do so out of habit, not because they enjoy the micro-management. Your team has likely been trained to bring you problems rather than solutions because the boundaries of authority are unclear.

We use the Focus Day to break this dynamic immediately. During this first session, we build your Accountability Chart. This tool defines who owns which seats and what their core responsibilities are. It takes the decision-making pressure off your shoulders by transferring ownership to your leadership team.

You are ready to begin if you, as the owner, are willing to let go of the vine. If you are prepared to allow your leaders to make mistakes, learn from them, and own their outcomes, you are ready. If you intend to continue micro-managing and overriding their decisions after we define their seats, then you are not ready, and the engagement will fail.

The transition from a hub-and-spoke system to a decentralized, self-managing team requires a shift in your identity. You must move from being the primary problem solver to being a builder of problem solvers. If you have the appetite for that personal shift, we should proceed with your Focus Day.

Category: Working With Tyler