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The Art of Influence: Leading Teams in Founder-Driven Companies with Todd Wilkens | Ep 44.
Episode 446th November 2024 • Greg Ballard Adaptive Executive Podcast • Greg Ballard
00:00:00 00:51:48

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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

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