Get some clarify about your role!!

Although most of my client engagements are fractional head of AI/ML or ML advising roles, I’ve taken on a select few leadership coaching clients as well.

One struggle that comes up a LOT is that most startup leaders don’t have a clear understanding of their role, and what success looks like for them. This feels surprising and a little silly to write, but it’s just so true, based on both my past experience and what I see with my clients.

Especially at startups, roles evolve gradually. You were the first ML engineer, then suddenly you’re leading the team, and nobody ever wrote down what you own or what “doing a great job” looks like. Plus you’re often moving very fast with people who are also first-time leaders, so you’re made to feel that everything is important and part of your role.

You’re left second-guessing every prioritization call, feeling responsible for everything, and getting feedback that seems to come out of nowhere.

The exercise we work through is very simple:

1. Write down your top responsibilities and what doing these well looks like.
2. Sit down with your founder and talk through the list.

Usually it’s too broad, or there’s something that you aren’t focused on that your founder wants added.

One client did this recently and described the result as calming and freeing. Once you and your founder agree on what you own, you stop second-guessing, you can push back with confidence, and you finally have a basis for asking for what you need.