And what is an Integrator anyway?
I had been planning my escape from the corporate world for a while.
I wanted to be able to work remotely and flexibly, but how?
Meanwhile, in my hobby life, I was surfing every morning before commuting to work.
I started giving surf reports for fun.
At first as an Instagram post and then as an audio report on WhatsApp.
During Covid lockdown in Australia, the report became popular. I think people wanted something else to focus on.
I gained a follower to my surf report. I could see on Instagram that he is a business coach. His name is James Schramko. I thought “What does he actually do?!”
Some time later, I’m waiting for a wave sitting on my board in the surf and I see James and so I straight out ask him: “With my skills in Leading People & Teams, Overseeing Projects/Ops and Driving Process Improvement can I start a business?”
We chatted.
James said: “You sound like an Integrator”.
What is that? Some kind of tech role?
James directed me to read “Rocket Fuel” by Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters.
I read it and, wow!
As clear as night and day, I could see that book identified me as an Integrator.
That is what Rocket Fuel is about, explaining if you are a Visionary or an Integrator and how these two roles can work together harmoniously.
Fast forward to today and my business, VirtualDOO, has a team of Fractional Integrators & DOOs that serve a global client base.
Here were my key takeaways:
1. The Visionary
These are the dreamers, the big-picture thinkers who see beyond the horizon. They’re brimming with ideas and drive innovation, but often stumble over the minutiae of day-to-day operations.
2. Integrator
This person is the doer. They take the Visionary’s dreams and turn them into something you can touch and see. They manage the details, keep the team moving together, and make sure things get done.
3. Rocket Fuel
When these two forces unite, they create a synergy that propels companies forward at breakneck speed. Rocket Fuel doesn’t just stop at defining these roles; it dives deep into how to find your perfect counterpart, foster a productive relationship, and overcome the inevitable challenges that arise.
The 5 Rules for Rocket Fuel
1. Stay on the Same Page
This is accomplished through the Same Page Meeting. List all your issues, concerns, ideas, and disconnects, and once you’ve built the full list, then identify, discuss, and solve them.
2. No End Runs
It’s essential for the Visionary or the Integrator to not impede the effectiveness of the other.
An end run happens when an employee goes around a manager to complain or get a better/different answer to his problem.
3. The Integrator is the Tie Breaker
The basic rule of thumb is that the Sales Leader owns decisions on Sales issues, the Operations Leader owns Operations issues, and so on.
The Integrator handles day-to-day cross-departmental bottlenecks by guiding decision making.
4. You Are an Employee When Working “in” the Business
If you are a Visionary or an Integrator and also an Owner, you must recognize that your role as an “Owner” is very different from your role as an “Employee.”
A feeling of “owner’s entitlement” can create tremendous disruption in the organisation.
5. Maintain Mutual Respect
As a dynamic Visionary/Integrator duo, you must truly respect each other. This cannot be faked, as your actions will be easily apparent to others in your organisation.
If you have a lack of respect for each other, you must end the relationship. Life is too short.
Talk soon,
Lloyd
PS – Are you a Visionary who is missing an Integrator? Let’s chat.
