If you haven’t read my previous blog, “What is a Visionary?”, it’s a vital read before reading this one.
With your accountability chart complete (click here to download the accountability chart), you will clearly see illustrated the need for an Integrator. This is the major function that all major functions report to.
The intent of this blog is to clarify the function and the value of the Integrator role in your organization, as every organization must have an Integrator (a.k.a. President, COO, General Manager, Chief of Staff).
An Integrator is the person who is the tie-breaker for the leadership team, is the glue for the organization, holds everything together, beats the drum (provides cadence), is accountable for the P&L results, executes the business plan, holds the Leadership Team accountable, and is the steady force in the organization. The Integrator also creates organizational clarity, communication, and consistency; typically (but not always) operates more on logic; drives results; forces resolution, focus, team unity, prioritization and follow-through; is the filter for all of the Visionary’s ideas; harmoniously integrates the Leadership Team; and helps to remove obstacles and barriers.
If you are a Visionary forced to play the Integrator role because you’re stuck with nobody to free you up, the first step is to find someone in your organization, and if the right person isn’t in your organization, you must look outside your organization. In the meantime, you or someone must play the Integrator role on a temporary basis to the best of your ability until you fill the role with the right person in the right seat.
If you are a partnership, co-running your business, typically one of you is an Integrator and the other is a Visionary, and co-running the business is causing confusion and complexity. If you will divide and conquer, you will create clarity, execute better, and get to your vision faster.
If you are an Integrator who is confused about your role, use these two blogs (Part I and Part II) to clarify your (and your Visionary’s) role.
Occasionally you are the rare combination of Visionary and Integrator. While this is rare, it does exist. If so, then simply collapse the two roles into one and illustrate it in your accountability chart as the Integrator role and go forward.
By the way, there is a shortage of Integrators in the world for small businesses ($2–50 M) and plenty of Visionaries. Calling all Integrators! You have a place in the world.
