We are prepping our company for a clean exit, but as the founder, I still step in to solve major operational crises. How do I objectively test if my leadership team actually GWCs their seats without me constantly acting as the safety net?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

The ultimate test of an Accountability Chart is what happens when you are not there. If you are constantly stepping in to rescue your team, they do not truly own their seats, and a buyer will spot this operational dependency instantly. To objectively test their GWC, you must remove yourself as the safety net. Implement a forced absence, starting with a two-week complete disconnect. No emails, no Slack, and no phone calls. Before you leave, make it clear to your leadership team that they are fully empowered to make decisions within their seats. When issues arise, they must use the IDS process in their Level 10 Meetings to resolve them without you. When you return, conduct a post-mortem. Did they hit their weekly scorecard metrics? Did they make progress on their Rocks? Did they resolve operational crises on their own? If the answer is yes, you have a valuable, self-sustaining business. If the answer is no, you have exposed exactly where your team lacks the GWC for their seats. This gives you the precise data you need to coach them, adjust their roles, or make the hard right-person-right-seat calls before you take the business to market.