We are in the first 90 days of our EOS journey, and as the founder, I am currently sitting in both the Visionary and Integrator seats. How do I run our early Level 10 Meetings effectively when I am constantly switching hats and talking to myself?

Question

Tyler Smith · Accepted Answer

Sitting in both the Visionary and Integrator seats during the early stages of an EOS implementation is a difficult but common reality for many founders. The danger is that the Visionary mindset of big ideas and loose structures will bleed into the Integrator role, which requires intense discipline and strict adherence to the meeting agenda. To run your Level 10 Meetings effectively under these conditions, you must establish clear mental boundaries. When you are leading the meeting, you must wear your Integrator hat. This means you are responsible for keeping the team on time, enforcing the reporting rules, and driving the IDS session to a resolution. If you need to share a big, strategic idea as the Visionary, you must explicitly state to the team that you are switching hats. Say, I am speaking as the Visionary for a moment, share your thought, and then immediately return to your Integrator role to keep the meeting moving. Ultimately, this double-hatting is a temporary solution. Use your early quarterly meetings to define the permanent Integrator role on your Accountability Chart and map out a plan to fill it so you can return to your true strength.