TL;DR Want to lead well? Start delegating well. Most leaders think they’re delegating—but in reality, they’re either micromanaging or abdicating. Instead, use mandates to transfer real power.
I have worked almost exclusively at institutions where there was a strong non-CEO founder (family offices, hedge funds) that is involved in the business.
When successful, clarity of mandates cascades downward (founder --> CEO --> Senior exec) and leaders are as comfortable saying decision they are *not* taking agency in. Accountability / reward are about the quality of the decision or outcome, and decision rights are added or removed accordingly.
I have worked almost exclusively at institutions where there was a strong non-CEO founder (family offices, hedge funds) that is involved in the business.
When successful, clarity of mandates cascades downward (founder --> CEO --> Senior exec) and leaders are as comfortable saying decision they are *not* taking agency in. Accountability / reward are about the quality of the decision or outcome, and decision rights are added or removed accordingly.