Where the Visionary sets the vision and path forward, the EOS Integrator builds the road for the team to follow. They are ultimately responsible for implementing the business strategy and removing any obstacles that come up along the way. The Integrator is the glue that keeps the team together and moving forward in sync.
An understated part of the Integrators job is to be a sounding board for the Visionary – giving them the space and creativity to develop new ideas, enhancing them, and ultimately filtering them to keep the company on track and moving forward.
The Integrator is a crucial position and absolutely necessary for the Visionary and the Business to be successful. They focus more on logic, and provide the steady structure and accountability needed.
Common Challenges
In small businesses, it can be challenging to have separate roles for Visionary and Integrator. In some cases, the roles can be combined, with the President acting as both the Visionary and Integrator. In these cases, be aware of the limitations – the Company will only go as far as it has capacity, and that capacity rests solely on one person.
Another common challenge is not setting the Integrator up for success. In some businesses, one partner is the clear Visionary, and the other is a clear Integrator. In other businesses, there may not be a clear Integrator. Tread carefully here – it is important that the Integrator have the necessary power to do their job effectively. They should be able to direct day-to-day activities and have the authority as the tie-breaker. You may need to look externally to find an Integrator or revisit your Accountability Chart to get a better understanding of the roles in your business.
If you are looking for support as an Integrator, take a look at our Accelerated EOS program or our Self-Implementer Groups!