As a CEO coach for scale-ups, I have repeatedly seen three distinct phases of growing pains.

I call them "The Three Transitions":

Why?

All growing organizations face three transitions in their leadership as they scale.

Their answer varies. But the growing pain they need to solve is the same.

If you are a founder or CEO of a scale-up organization, you must be aware of these transitions and find your answer to them:

The Three Transitions

1. Moving from Founder-led to Leadership Team-led

→ Collective Intelligence beats individual leadership:

You will want to get the best people in the room as you grow. With a growing leadership team, you are now moving to become a conductor of intelligence.

Your Task: Learn to Coach and set your leadership team up for success.

2. Moving from Expert CEO to Generalist CEO

→ You want your employees to know more than you:

With increasing experts in your organization, you are doing something wrong if you are still the most intelligent guy in the room. Don't beat yourself up if your CTO knows more than you.

Your Task: Hire experts and learn to become savvy and understand all parts of the organization.

3. Moving from “working on the product” to “working on the Organization”

→ The transition from captain to shipbuilder:

With a leadership team and experts in place, you are now primarily focused on creating a high-performance/high-trust organization.

Your Task: Learn the best of organizational design & design your organization for success.

Summary

Founders and CEOs of scale-up organizations have to get these 3 transitions right if they want to be successful:

1. Moving from Founder-led to Leadership Team-led

2. Moving from Expert CEO to Generalist CEO

3. Moving from “working on the Product” to working “on the organization”

The key to effective leadership is knowing your current growth stage to set the right path to master future challenges.

The biggest question you will face is this:

“What is my version of one of those transitions?”

Of all the founders I helped through these transitions, it was never that one model for success worked for another.

One CEO I coached, the CEO of a Software company, decided to hire a leadership team early on. Another decided to lead more hands-on through turbulent times. Both calls were right because they were deliberate and took into account their strengths as leaders.

Are you facing one of the 3 transitions? Reply directly to this email and let me know.

I’ll see you next week,

P.S. Leading is hard. Here is how I can support you to lead yourself and your organization:

1. The Yearly Reflection Space for Leaders:

I've opened applications for my 2024 "Wise Leadership Retreat.“ It will take place 06.- 11. August this year. You can apply here.

2. A Beautiful Mind for Executives

This one is for you if you want to train your mind with deep training from science and meditation traditions. My virtual “A Beautiful Mind Course” for Executives. Train here.

3. A CEO Playbook library with the best of Management and Leadership:

I scan the best of leadership literature and mindfulness so my clients can focus on what matters most—building a thriving organization. My client's CEO Playbooks library features the best management and leadership theory. You can have exclusive access here.

4. A la Carte Executive Training:

Each year, I support a few leaders & their organizations in transforming into more resonant versions of themselves. Want to be coached by me? Say hello. 

PPS: And because you deserve it - here is your bonus.

My 10 “Most Popular Mini Leadership Guides”:

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