Transitioning from Founder to CEO: Adjusting Your Role When You Build Bigger

When you scale your business, becoming a larger organization with multiple employees, you need to stop letting everything run through you – in other words, you need to become a CEO instead of a Founder. Of course, easier said than done – which is why Meny spoke to Business Coach Eric Adelman, who is expert in helping founders transition when their companies grow significantly larger. Together they discuss the basic building blocks needed to make that transition work, and how you can use those building blocks effectively. Learn about delegating, time management, setting goals (and knowing the difference between a goal and a wish), as well as how to create an enjoyable company culture, and why it matters. If you’re ready to make the leap into running a bigger company, this is an episode that you absolutely should not miss.

Transcript

[00:01 – 07:35] – The Founder to CEO Shift

Understanding the need to evolve from hands-on involvement to strategic leadership
The importance of building a self-sustaining team
Recognizing the right time for this transition

[07:36 – 16:32] – Mastering the Art of Delegation

Learning to delegate tasks effectively and understanding the 80% rule
Overcoming the challenge of letting go of control
Strategies for effective and responsible delegation

[16:33 – 24:14] – Time Management: A Leader’s Ally

Techniques for managing time efficiently as a leader
Importance of intentional scheduling and prioritizing
Balancing availability with productivity

[24:15 – 32:05] – Goal Setting: Turning Visions into Reality

Adopting the SMART goal framework for actionable results
Distinguishing between aspirations and achievable goals
Aligning personal and business goals for holistic growth

[32:06 – 42:22] – Cultivating a Thriving Company Culture

The impact of a fun and engaging work environment on employee retention
Tailoring company culture to match team dynamics
Integrating personal development into professional growth

Practical Pointers

The three main building blocks in transitioning from Founder to CEO are delegating, time management, and goal setting. When you delegate, don’t try to find someone who can do it just as well as you; if you do, you will be sorely disappointed. Instead, find someone who can do it 80% as well as you can, understands what he has to do, and has the resources to do it properly. Most importantly, set up systems for yourself so that you can “inspect what you expect.”

Almost everyone struggles with time management. The problem isn’t taking time off, but being pulled into things that you didn’t anticipate and which may not be a productive use of your time. A good way to get better at time management is to take five minutes at the end of every day to look at your daily calendar, hour by hour, and see where you weren’t being intentional with your time. Once you’ve done this for a week, you’ll have real data that will tell you where you need to improve.

A great framework for setting goals that you can actually meet involves checking five boxes: the goal must be specific, measurable, actionable, realistic, and time-bound. If your goal doesn’t tick all five boxes, you need to reevaluate what your goals are. Without these five criteria, you have a wish, not a goal.

Setting a company culture of fun will encourage your employees to stay with your company. If there was a fun activity during the day, your employees will remember it rather than the cold calls they made or the standard work that they did. If you want your talented employees to stick around, you need to spend time making a company culture that they will enjoy.

Show notes

Website

Guest Bio

Eric Adelman

Eric Adelman is a Business Coach who works primarily with founders and entrepreneurs. He has personal experience founding, managing, growing and selling a multimillion dollar business, and draws upon that reservoir to help his clients set goals and attain them.

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