We have two top-performing project managers who are currently sharing the responsibilities of our single Senior Project Manager seat. They work great together, but we know the EOS® rule is one name per seat. How do we split this seat on our Accountability Chart without making one feel demoted?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Having two people share a single seat on your Accountability Chart is a violation of core EOS® principles. When two names are in one box, accountability is completely diluted. If a metric is missed or a project falls behind, the two individuals will inevitably point fingers at each other, and your Integrator will have no clear way to resolve the issue.

To fix this without making one of your top performers feel demoted, you must split the seat into two distinct, clearly defined seats. Look at how you can logically divide the responsibilities. You can split the seat by geographic territory, by client industry, by project scale, or by specific target metrics. Each new seat must have its own unique set of five roles and its own distinct column on the Accountability Chart.

Once the seats are split, place one name in each box and run a GWC™ check for both. Ensure both individuals fully understand that they are now solely accountable for the results of their specific seat. This structural split actually empowers your high performers because it gives them complete ownership over their domain. It also gives your leadership team clear visibility into who is truly delivering results, which is essential for building a scalable business that is ready for a clean exit.