Great Leadership is Presence, Not Absence: Follow-Up on Founders Mode

Welcome back to Cook’s PlayBooks, where we deliver the best in leadership insights and practical strategies.

Following up on my previous post on Founders Mode, we’re exploring Brian Chesky’s leadership approach, which demonstrates the essence of a founder’s presence in their company’s most critical functions. Brian shared more of his perspective with Keith Rabois at the Ramp conference on being deeply engaged as a leader, from decision-making to the art of hiring. His insights apply to founders and leaders alike.

Introducing: Great Leadership is Presence, Not Absence

Read the full post!

Key Insights:

• “Review All The Work”: Brian conducts a deep dive into every function in the company every two years, encouraging leaders to show both successes and challenges without fear. This process embodies the Founders Mode mentality of hands-on leadership and continuous improvement.
• “Be The Final Decision Maker”: Brian, as the Chief Product Officer, reviews anything customer-facing himself, demonstrating the kind of active presence founders and leaders can bring to their areas of expertise.
• “Executive Hiring”: He emphasizes hiring executives who fit the company’s stage, asking in-depth questions and conducting extensive reference checks. This approach ensures the right leadership presence at every growth phase.

Read the full post here!

Why should you subscribe to Cook’s PlayBooks?

• “Best Of” Wisdom: Insights and lessons from my 30+ year career.
• Weekly Content: Long-form posts on Substack, medium-form on LinkedIn, and short-form on Twitter/X.
• Community Building: Join a vibrant community of financial and operational leaders. Share and learn from each other’s experiences.

Bookmark the blog, subscribe to get posts straight to your inbox, or become a paid subscriber to join a community conversation.

Subscribe to Cook’s PlayBooks

Follow on LinkedIn

Follow on Twitter/X

Follow on Instagram?

All the Best Ofs! Jim