Startup Therapy

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the pressures of leading a Startup team. It’s a Founder’s job to make difficult and unpopular decisions, even unconventional ones, which may merit the team's unfavorable reactions. Over time, these unpopular decisions make a Founder less likable. So then, at what point will being likable still matter?

Show Notes

In today’s Startup Therapy Podcast, Wil and Ryan talk about the pressures of leading a Startup team. It’s a Founder’s job to make difficult and unpopular decisions, even unconventional ones, which may merit the team's unfavorable reactions. Over time, these unpopular decisions make a Founder less likable. So then, at what point will being likable still matter?

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Resources:

What to Listen For
  • 00:00 Intro
  • 00:30 As we lead, how important is it that we're liked?
  • 05:29 Making fundamentally unpopular decisions to grow
  • 11:56 When we’re starting, we build good relationships with people
  • 16:00 You’re a cool boss but you aren’t invited in team lunches
  • 19:23 The expectation for you to say ‘Yes’ all the time
  • 21:47 What about when decisions don’t map back to you?
  • 23:23 Even if you aren’t liked, you have to be respected
  • 28:39 Everyone loves you, but you’re doing a bad job
  • 32:43 Make difficult decisions but still empathize
  • 37:22 As the organization grows, there will be more people not connected to you
  • 39:39 Things you can do to seed some goodwill

What is Startup Therapy?

The "No BS" version of how startups are really built, taught by actual startup Founders who have lived through all of it. Hosts Wil Schroter and Ryan Rutan talk candidly about the intense struggles Founders face both personally and professionally as they try to turn their idea into something that will change the world.