Divide Roles Between Startup Founders Based Off Strengths

Startup founders can have such a great time launching a business together. It can sometimes be tricky, however, if you end up stepping on each other’s toes all the time. Dissolving the partnership and going off on your own is not the only answer to this problem. It may not even be the best answer that works for your good or the good of the business. Working together to divide up different roles will help startup founders to each focus on their own areas and avoid undue conflicts. Dividing up tasks also gives you the great benefit of taking on the roles for which you are best suited.

Common Roles of Startup Founders

There are only a few basic roles that startup founders need to worry about:

• Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or President
• Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
• Chief Security Officer (CSO)
• Chief Operating Officer (COO) – sometimes also taking on the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Chief Technology Officer (CTO)
• Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

These basic roles embody a lot of smaller roles, however, that all come together to keep the business running. It takes a lot of time and energy to juggle everything involved. Startup founders must be self-motivated to keep up with it all.

The best motivation comes from being happy and comfortable in a role. Below are some more specific roles under these hats that startup founders commonly must take on. You can see below them the factors that can help you decide on who is best for each one. In these roles that aptly fit your complementary skills, you can best apply your independent thought and bring it to a fulfilling conclusion.

Licenses and Other Paperwork

Applying for business permits and licenses and processing other required documentation is a must for any business. This role involves visiting offices, meeting with lawyers, and filling up forms.

A keen eye and organisational skills mark the person who is best suited for this role. Patience is a virtue that will also serve well the one who takes on this job.

Accounting and Finance

The financial lead is responsible for making sure that the business is and remains viable and profitable. This includes managing the cash flow to ensure that the business doesn’t burn through funds before the targeted growth is achieved.

The best man for this role is the one who has a mind for numbers. The analytical thinking goes along with this, which allows this person to keep close watch of trends and cash flow. The ability to source new or redistribute existing budgets as needed is also an essential skill in this role.

Marketing

This role entails creating plans for identifying and reaching potential customers. For all businesses, social media and website marketing are essential in today’s market. Social avenues involve reaching out to potential clients and existing clients via less formal channels. Website marketing involves communicating the brand to the general public.

This person should have good knowledge of marketing. Social media also requires a person who is adept at reading people and building rapport. A genuine interest in people is a valuable asset in this role. At this stage, it is important to make a good impression and generate interest. The person who handles this doesn’t have to be a relationship genius but should have some technical skills. At least an understanding of the workings of social media, websites and internet marketing, in general, is imperative. Creative skills are also needed to lead the team in creating compelling content about the product or service.

If you want to learn about the other spheres of responsibility in a start-up continue reading this column on www.connorgillivan.com.