The Art of Influence: Leading Teams in Founder-Driven Companies with Todd Wilkens | Ep 44.

Guest: Todd Wilkins, a seasoned executive with extensive experience leading product teams in startups

Discussion Points:

• Background and Career Journey: Todd shares his transition from computer science to leadership roles, emphasizing his interest in user experience, sociology, and supporting small to medium businesses.
• Working with Founders:
• Adaptability and Growth: Founders often face new challenges, requiring them to adapt and grow. They need support in areas they're not fully prepared for, combining a need for learning with their inherent conviction.
• Conviction vs. Stubbornness: Founders are described as having a strong conviction, which can sometimes appear as stubbornness but is crucial for overcoming entrepreneurial hurdles.
• Trust and Understanding: Building trust with founders involves deeply understanding their motivations and the journey they've taken, akin to hostage negotiators understanding their subjects.
• Challenges in Founder-Led Companies:
• Delegation: Founders often struggle with giving direction and power effectively, which are essential for proper delegation.
• Communication: Founders might communicate their vision or mission inconsistently, leading to misinterpretation among team members.
• Strategies for Effective Leadership:
• First Principles Approach: Todd uses a simple framework to break down business operations into core components (revenue, costs, customer acquisition, retention, expansion) to align teams and clarify strategic actions.
• Personal Reflection: Importance of self-awareness and personal growth to be an adaptive leader, which also aids in understanding others.

Contact Information

website - ToddWilkins.com

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/toddwilkens

PODCAST INFO

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