Are the vibes off with your 2nd in Command? 3 Steps to Realign Your Team
Not-so-fun fact about Kara: My business partner of 3 years locked me out of every company account with no warning. I had spent three years of 50-hour weeks developing quality marketing services, building an incredible, talented team, and loving every minute of it. One of my favorite parts of that business was working with my co-founder. We laughed, spun ideas, and tackled problems as a team until… that stopped.
Since then, I’ve been interested in understanding how business owners can go about proactively designing long-lasting small business partnerships— whether it’s co-founders OR solopreneurs interested in bringing on business management support.
Shout-out to 3 books that have inspired what you’ll see in this article:
"Rocket Fuel" by @Gino Wickman and @Mark C. Winters • Get the skinny on the “Visionary” and “Integrator” roles as defined in by EOS Worldwide
“Fractional Leadership” by @Ben Wolff • Understand how part-time leadership is transforming small and online businesses
“Radical Candor” by @Kim Scott • Lead and communicate with authenticity, kindness, and candor!
I recently worked with a Visionary/Integrator duo (here’s a quick video from @Amanda Barkey sharing more about those terms!) who were hitting a rough patch. The Visionary was asking me “How do I know if this person just isn’t the right fit for my business?” and the Integrator was searching for jobs… oof.
As anyone would expect, their frustrations were a reflection of their completely opposing strengths. I was inspired to write this short article about them because they handled this very tricky, uncomfortable situation beautifully…
*The names included below have been fictionalized for discretion
Picture Alex: bursting with larger-than-life ideas that seem to fly off the page faster than he can write them down. And then there's Katrina: the backbone of the organization, helping the team execute bite-sized tasks to bring those ideas to life. Initially, the synergy felt like a match made in heaven. But as time passed, seeds of resentment were planted for both leaders. While it’s easier said than done, figuring out how to have healthy, respectful conflict will ensure that frustrations don’t bubble up into explosions— or worse, quiet, abrupt resignation letters.
Step 1 • Hard conversations happen in “same-page meetings”
Alex and Katrina knew something needed to change. So, they did something brave – they talked it out. Alex shared his worries, and Katrina, being the practical one, agreed they needed to find a better way forward. Together, they laid everything out on the table, focusing on maintaining clear goals and alignment to leverage each other's talents fully. They also agreed to meet more regularly to have dedicated time to discuss misalignments as they inevitably crop up.
Step 2 • Bring in reinforcements
As each of them took ownership of what they could be doing better, they vowed to bring in external support to avoid falling back into unconstructive habits. (Cue the Backstage Ops team!) Alex committed to focusing more on his thought leadership responsibilities including speaking engagements. By providing accountability and coaching for Alex to stay committed to his thought leadership projects, we were able to keep him out of the weeds so Katrina could run the show!
Meanwhile, Katrina admitted that she was struggling to delegate for a variety of reasons. By building more operational infrastructure (Asana implementation, an Accountability Chart, and Communication Protocols to name a few) …we provided Katrina with tools to develop structure and an assistant to complement her skills and take some weight off her shoulders.
These steps helped to crystallize their roles to avoid stepping on toes and helped them get aligned to generate more traction toward their goals.
Step 3 • If it’s not fun, what are we even doing
With more clarity and operational support, Alex and Katrina expressed feeling like they were starting to notice the “fun” come back into their working relationship.
They continued defining their roles and responsibilities, leaning on each other's strengths more than ever, meanwhile staying focused on their shared goals. Alex's creativity soared with the added support and accountability, while Katrina felt a renewed sense of confidence in maintaining boundaries, alignment, and team management.
Alex and Katrina's story isn't just theirs – it's a lesson in openness, patience, and long-term partnership. If you’re a small business owner, you know that turnover is a huge issue. To find an integrator who is invested in the success of your business and willing to carry the burden and celebrate the BIG WINS alongside you… you’ll need a dose of patience and investment.
I wish I could go back in time to when my business partner and I were preparing to part ways. There’s much I would do differently now like having the hard conversations, getting outside support to help us through whatever felt stuck, and designing roles that lit both of us UP so we could each thrive.
You don’t have to be alone in your business.
While there may be bumpy chapters a thoughtful partnership can take you and your business to the next level. And hey, if you're navigating a similar journey, and struggling in a Visionary/Integrator partnership know that we're here to lend a hand. Even the very best (and experienced!) leaders benefit from a fresh pair of eyes… it might be exactly what you need to breathe fresh life into your partnership and business.
If you’re reading this article and thinking about bringing an Integrator into your business for the first time, let’s chat. If you set people up for success, you’re bound to get great results!
