Transitioning from founder to CEO is one of the most challenging shifts a leader can make.
I know what I want to achieve, I have the vision, I know what it’ll look like when it’s done, so much so that I can almost taste it. What takes work and focus for me is the messy middle, for many years I beat myself up that I couldn’t do that stuff as well. Many of my CEO clients are the same. Staring at their huge todo lists and disparing. Complaining of not enough time. By the way it’s never a time problem, that’s the clue it’s a different kind of problem…
Overcoming the messy middle
Transitioning from founder to CEO is one of the most challenging shifts a leader can make. It’s not just about scaling your business, it’s about scaling yourself. The skills that built your company aren’t always the ones needed to manage it.
In a recent webinar, I shared some key strategies for navigating this complex journey:
Focus on your strengths and hire for the “messy middle” to manage day-to-day operations.
Break long-term goals into actionable steps and track weekly progress to stay on course.
Lean on trusted advisors or coaches to stay aligned and accountable.
In this clip, I share one of the biggest challenges founders face: transitioning from being the visionary to handling day-to-day operations.
The truth is, founders aren’t always the best at the nitty-gritty of operations, and that’s okay. I explain why it’s crucial to recognise your strengths and hire people who can manage the “messy middle” so you can keep focusing on the bigger picture.
Letting go isn’t failure – it’s how you scale.
Letting go of operational details isn’t failure. It’s growth. It’s how you create space to focus on strategy and scale your vision.
For a deeper dive into these insights, watch the full webinar: From Founder to CEO
