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Better Business, Better Life – Issue 126
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Happy Saturday & Happy Birthday to me. 😁
This week has been my birthday week & I also intend to make the most of my birthday weekend too.
When you get to my age, the ripe old age of 54, you want to celebrate every year you get older. Especially for me, who has lost all my immediate family… It’s a bloody privilege to get a year older. 💖
It’s also a privilege to do my work, so on my birthday, whilst I had the afternoon off, I also ran a workshop for CEOs who are part of the TEC/Vistage Group.
We worked on how to be great bosses & how to implement incentive schemes that work across the entire business based on profitability.
I mostly took the next day off, although I had a few doctors & specialist appointments. Again, the joys of old age… the last few weeks have seen me have several skin cancers removed & a preliminary diagnosis of osteoarthritis… I am still waiting on the results for both.
In celebration of my birthday, I have recorded a birthday podcast with some of the things I have learned over the 54 years – the link is below.
But now, onto more important things…
BUSINESS TOOLS & REAL-LIFE LESSONS
Integrator vs Implementer… Are they the same?
What’s on my mind this week & what can I share about real-life stories?
Well, I have had a bit of a bee in my bonnet & it’s come from clients who have wondered why, if they have an integrator, they need an Implementer.
It’s true that a good integrator will definitely take your business to the next level & if you use an experienced EOS or qualified Integrator, then it’s going to be even better.
But they’re not going to replace an Implementer.
In fact, the best combination is one of each for your business.
The Vital Distinction Between an Integrator and an Implementer: Why Your Business Needs Both
In the world of entrepreneurial success, roles are crucial.
Two of the most pivotal roles in any business running on the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) are the Integrator and the Implementer. While both play essential parts in the growth and health of a company, they serve entirely different functions & the absence of one or the other can lead to disastrous results.
The Integrator: The Steady Hand on the Wheel
The Integrator is the person responsible for harmonising the major functions of the business.
They are the glue that holds the business together, ensuring that the leadership team is aligned and the company is on track to achieve its vision.
Integrators are the ones who drive accountability, manage day-to-day operations & ensure that the leadership team is functioning effectively.
They are the executors, the ones who turn the Visionary’s ideas into reality.
The Implementer: The Guide to EOS Mastery
On the other hand, an Implementer is a professional who coaches leadership teams through the EOS process.
Their role is to ensure that EOS’s tools, disciplines & processes are applied purely and consistently within the organisation.
An Implementer helps the leadership team clarify, simplify & achieve their vision by guiding them through EOS implementation, facilitating sessions, teaching the EOS tools & ensuring that the team stays on track.
So, what are the consequences of Having Only One?
Case Study 1: The Integrator Without an Implementer
A mid-sized family business decided to run on EOS. They engaged with an EOS Implementer first for the first few sessions, through Vision Building Day 2 & then decided that their Integrator could continue with the process.
The CEO, who also acted as the Visionary, felt confident that their strong Integrator could handle the implementation.
At first, things seemed to be going well—the Integrator kept the team focused and drove execution. However, without an outside perspective to guide them, they started to deviate from the pure EOS process.
They began cherry-picking tools and altering methods to fit their preferences rather than sticking to the proven system.
Over time, the leadership team became misaligned, the core principles of EOS were diluted & the company’s growth stagnated.
What they didn’t realise was that the Integrator, while excellent at managing operations, lacked the deep understanding & unbiased perspective that an Implementer would have provided.
An Implementer works with many other businesses & is also not deeply involved in the business, so they can use this experience & impartiality to really ask deep questions.
The Integrator also doesn’t know all of the tools in the EOS toolbox.
The foundational tools are shared in the first 3 days & many of the additional tools (over 50 in total) are available online from EOS Worldwide.
But knowing when & how to use them is the domain of a trained & certified EOS Implementer.
We follow the EOS Proven process over the roughly 2 years that we have worked with clients, but we also use our knowledge & experiences with other clients to help us make the right decisions about the tools to teach at the right time.
I am committed to mastery of EOS, the process & tools & that’s why I (& my other EOS Implementers) go to the quarterly EOS collaborative exchanges, attend the annual sessions in the US & spend 3-4 hours per week training & doing deep dives into the tools.
So, that’s why an Implementer adds value to the business. But what about an Integrator? What role do they play & what value do they add?
Let’s take a look at the 2nd case study.
Case Study 2: The Implementer Without an Integrator
Another company, a fast-growing professional services firm, hired an EOS Implementer to help them install the EOS model.
The Implementer did an excellent job guiding the team through the tools and processes, but there needed to be a strong Integrator in place to manage the day-to-day focus & execution.
The Visionary was full of great ideas & the Implementer helped the team build a solid strategic plan, but when it came to execution, things fell apart.
The team had given someone the title of Integrator, but they were more of an Executive Assistant to the Visionary.
This meant that they were focused on keeping the Visionary happy.
The lack of a dedicated, strong Integrator who wasn’t prepared to challenge the Visionary meant that whilst there was a plan agreed upon at each Quarterly session, the focus was lost as the Visionary continued to bring their ideas to life through the Integrator & the agreed plan wasn’t stuck to.
This resulted in an overworked team due to Visionary having them all running around working on their ideas, even though they weren’t part of the focus of the agreed quarterly plans.
As a result, the company struggled to maintain consistency & failed to gain traction, leading to frustration & lack of profitability.
The same happens when you don’t have an Integrator.
You need a strong Integrator to not only hold the team accountable, follow through on initiatives & ensure that the day-to-day operations align with the company’s strategic goals but also to be that person who will challenge the Visionary & keep the team laser-sharp focused on the agreed 90-day rocks.
Having an Integrator who is experienced with EOS & the tools is a definite advantage, but it’s not essential. These can be learned.
Why You Need Both
The Integrator and Implementer are like two sides of a coin—each is necessary for the company’s overall success, but they serve distinct & complementary purposes.
The Integrator keeps the company grounded, ensuring that the day-to-day operations are managed effectively & that the team is accountable.
The Implementer ensures that the EOS framework is applied correctly, helping the leadership team avoid common pitfalls & maintain their focus on the bigger picture. They also ask objective questions & facilitate difficult discussions by applying an external & independent lens.
Having both roles filled allows a company to maximise the benefits of EOS.
The Implementer provides the external perspective & the expertise in the EOS process, ensuring that the company doesn’t deviate from the system. The Integrator, meanwhile, ensures that the plan is executed effectively & that the team stays aligned & accountable.
In conclusion, while it might be tempting to think that one role can substitute for the other, the truth is that both the Integrator & the Implementer are essential to fully reap the benefits of EOS.
The Integrator drives the business forward on a daily basis. At the same time, the Implementer ensures that the business is on the right track & that the leadership team is operating at its best. Without both, your company risks losing its way & failing to reach its full potential.
A Fractional Integrator is usually fully qualified as an EOS Integrator & works for multiple companies on a fractional basis. They are ideal for a company that doesn’t have someone suitable for the Integrator role. They can hit the ground running from day one & they can also help bring someone from the internal team, or a new hire, up to speed – helping them to be an effective Integrator by modelling how the EOS tools should be used, purely.
There’s not been a Fractional Integrator business in NZ… Until now!
I have joined forces with Adam Harris, a fellow EOS Implementer, and David Whyte, an EOS Rocket Fuel Integrator graduate, to create Integrated Executives. We have engaged several EOS-trained Integrators and can offer Fractional Integrator services as well as help your people with the role through modelling how to use the EOS tools.
So, don’t leave your business success to chance; ensure that you have both the steady hand of an Integrator & the expert guidance of an Implementer to navigate your journey. Feel free to discuss your needs on either side of this equation. I only do EOS Implementation as that is what I am passionate about, but now, through Integrated Executives, I can still help you.
LINKS TO USEFUL STUFF
This section gives you quick access to 9 links - to articles, blogs, podcasts & stuff that will help you to create a better business & lead a better life.
Podcasts to Listen to
MEET OUR TEAM
In this section, I introduce the team & our Trusted Partners.
Hey everyone, it’s great to reintroduce James Smith this week.
He’s not your typical marketing guru – he’s got this amazing blend of experience that sets him apart. And just like me & EOS, he likes to keep things simple & pragmatic.
With his experience at top companies like Fairfax Media and Panasonic, he founded Xennial in Auckland in 2018, bringing a fresh approach to building marketing capabilities from the ground up.
James isn’t just a fantastic partner. With his talent for turning problems into solutions, James is the person you want by your side when it comes to boosting your marketing efforts and achieving real results.
How do you help people?
I help business owners and their teams improve the marketing functionality of their business, building confidence and capability in marketing within the organisation.
Why did you get into what you are doing?
After running a marketing franchise for six years providing outsourced marketing solutions, I came to the realisation that Kiwi businesses would be better off in the long term if they could affordably develop their own marketing function rather than outsource it to someone else. While everyone needs partners in marketing to help them execute, building internal confidence in your marketing abilities is the best way to ensure all the learnings and knowledge gained through marketing activities get fed back into the business.
What do you love about it?
Nothing makes me happier than witnessing the flourishing of a client’s marketing. Seeing clients move from a space of uncertainty to confidence and excitement is extremely rewarding. Taking a slightly wider perspective, in order for New Zealand to do well, our businesses need to perform well. It feels good to be aligned with that and playing my part in some small way.
What do you do in your spare time, pursuing other passions?
My newest hobby is brewing my own Kombucha. It’s been fun learning something new and ending up with the most delicious, healthy drink at the end (well, mostly, except for the batches that went wrong). It’s a bit like marketing I guess, the more you do it the better at it you get!
Tell us something that very few people know about you?
My eldest son has autism and ADHD. He was diagnosed at a young age and is now 12. Life inevitably changes when you have a child that requires so much additional support and care. It also means a lot of accommodating from his younger brother (8), whose needs don’t always get met as a result. My kids are such a big part of my purpose, and a lot of my motivation comes from trying to do my very best for these two little guys.
FIND OF THE WEEK
For this week, I’m sharing Integrated Executives to all leaders out there.
As one of the co-founders of IE, I’m excited about how we can help businesses level up in big ways.
Whether you are self-implementing EOS or working with an EOS Implementer, the Integrator role will truly transform your business as a Visionary. It enables you to let go and focus on what you love within the business.
As Gino Wickman says, two types of people are essential for running an entrepreneurial business: the Visionary & the Integrator.
Once you find the right Integrator, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without one.
Watch this short video to understand the differences between the Visionary & Integrator roles & how they provide the “rocket fuel” to break through the ceiling.
But what if no one in your organisation has the GWC (Get it, Want it, Capacity to do it) for the Integrator role?
They may not fully understand it, desire it, or have the capacity to perform it effectively.
The best way to determine if someone has Integrator abilities is to take the Rocket Fuel test.
Anyone can take this test, which will help clarify strengths and ensure that the right people are in the right seats.
If your business lacks an internal Integrator, the best solution may be to seek an external one.
A Fractional Integrator works with you & your team on a part-time basis, typically one or two days a week, to help execute your Vision/Traction Organizer (V/TO) from EOS.
In my introductory article, I discussed the power of having both an Implementer & an Integrator. We are proud to offer Fractional Integrators in New Zealand & Australia through our Integrated Executives business.
Our site helps you understand the differences between an Integrator & an Implementer & explains the benefits of having a fractional integrator.
Feel free to call us and discuss what’s right for your business.
We are here to help you live a better life by creating a better business. We are real-life business owners with years of experience & a strong desire to make a huge difference to the lives of entrepreneurs.
If anything here resonates with you or you would like our help, then please get in contact. Just reply to this newsletter & let us know who you would like to speak to…. Or visit our webpage & contact any of our team from their own pages.
If you know someone who would benefit from reading this, then please forward it onto them. 💖
NEED HELP?
If you’d like to learn more about any of these tools or would like to find out how I can help you achieve a better life through creating a better business, then book a free Discovery Call with me.
We’ll talk about what you want to get from your business & your life & come up with a plan to do that!
Debra Chantry-Taylor
Certified EOS Implementer | Accredited Family Business Advisor | Entrepreneurial Leadership & Business Coach | Speaker & Workshop Facilitator