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I disagree. This is EXACTLY why roles such as "Chief Operating Officer" and "Director of Operations" exist. You don't make your company succeed by giving up c

I disagree. This is EXACTLY why roles such as "Chief Operating Officer" and "Director of Operations" exist. You don't make your company succeed by giving up control. You hire people you do control who have the skills you lack.

ghaff 9y ago
And those skills may include taking the company in directions that you may not agree with. What then?
- dcole2929 9y ago
  You have to be smart enough, and humble enough to recognize when someone else's vision is what your company needs at the moment. I'd imagine that a good CEO would be able to both simultaneously provide the direction of a company while also accepting input, on how to actually get there. Navigation, and steering are two different things
WJW 9y ago
What if the skill the founder lacks is in leadership or vision? People like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg who can code AND lead are the absolute minority. I know more than a few founders who, while charismatic, absolutely do not have the temperament or skills to grow the business beyond 50 or people.
goatherders 9y ago
>> you dont make your company succeed by giving up control. Of course you do. Every time a new hire is made the founder gives up some control. The secretary now chooses the paper for the copy machine. The sales guy now enunciates the detail of the offering to the prospect. The engineer codes in her specific way. Growing a company is ALL about giving up control in exchange for accelerated growth of the business.
PeterisP 9y ago
That's exactly what is being done - the founder stays on the board as a shareholder and controls the decisions on overall direction, goals and the vision of the company, and hires an executive that has the skills required for management of a large company and will execute these goals.
acjohnson55 9y ago
If at some point, you end up being CEO but have delegated all the real work, you are a waste of space. There are roles like Chairman for people who aren't essential to day-to-day leadership.

ghaff 9y ago

And those skills may include taking the company in directions that you may not agree with. What then?

dcole2929 9y ago
You have to be smart enough, and humble enough to recognize when someone else's vision is what your company needs at the moment. I'd imagine that a good CEO would be able to both simultaneously provide the direction of a company while also accepting input, on how to actually get there. Navigation, and steering are two different things

WJW 9y ago

What if the skill the founder lacks is in leadership or vision? People like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg who can code AND lead are the absolute minority. I know more than a few founders who, while charismatic, absolutely do not have the temperament or skills to grow the business beyond 50 or people.

goatherders 9y ago

>> you dont make your company succeed by giving up control. Of course you do. Every time a new hire is made the founder gives up some control. The secretary now chooses the paper for the copy machine. The sales guy now enunciates the detail of the offering to the prospect. The engineer codes in her specific way. Growing a company is ALL about giving up control in exchange for accelerated growth of the business.

PeterisP 9y ago

That's exactly what is being done - the founder stays on the board as a shareholder and controls the decisions on overall direction, goals and the vision of the company, and hires an executive that has the skills required for management of a large company and will execute these goals.

acjohnson55 9y ago

If at some point, you end up being CEO but have delegated all the real work, you are a waste of space. There are roles like Chairman for people who aren't essential to day-to-day leadership.