Why Every Great Visionary
Needs an Integrator
Over the past month, I’ve had the pleasure of meeting several inspiring business founders—truly transformational leaders who have spent the last 5, 10, even 30 years building and growing their companies. These are exciting and bold entrepreneurs with a passion for possibility. They think big, move fast, take risks, and lead with instinct. They’re constantly imagining what could be.
In the world of EOS®, we call these leaders Visionaries. They’re often the ones who start companies, disrupt industries, and create real change.
But even the best Visionaries eventually hit a ceiling.
That’s where the Integrator comes in.
To understand the power of this role, it helps to first understand what an Integrator is not. In conversation with a fellow EOS Implementer recently, we discussed how Visionaries sometimes misinterpret this role. They see the Integrator as a supercharged assistant—someone who leads a key area of the business, follows up on tasks, or collaborates on ideas.
But the Integrator is much more than that. They are not a project manager. They are not a buffer.
The Integrator brings discipline, structure, and traction to the organization. They’re the steady hand at the wheel—responsible for executing the business plan and aligning all the moving parts: people, process, priorities, and performance.
In a strong Visionary/Integrator relationship, the business becomes capable of thriving even in the absence of the Visionary. As my colleague put it, “The real test of a great Integrator is this—if the Visionary left for a month, three months, or even a year, the company would keep running.”
Sure, it might not grow as fast. It might miss some market trends or creative opportunities. But the machine keeps running. The team stays focused. Customers are served. The work gets done.
That’s the power of a true Integrator.
Let me be clear: this doesn’t diminish the role of the Visionary. In a growth-oriented company, the Visionary plays a vital role—casting the long-term vision, spotting opportunities, and inspiring the team. But without an Integrator, those ideas often remain just that—ideas.
In fact, when the right Visionary and Integrator come together, something powerful happens. Gino Wickman and Mark C. Winters describe it in their book Rocket Fuel—a term that perfectly captures what’s possible when these two roles click. It’s the combination of innovation and execution, of dreaming and doing. Together, they create momentum that drives the business further and faster than either could alone.
I teach that when a business hits a ceiling, it’s often a leadership issue. And for many companies, empowering the right Integrator is the key to breaking through.
So, if you’re a Visionary who’s built something great but feels stuck—stretched thin, overwhelmed by the day-to-day—you may not need to work harder.
You may just need some Rocket Fuel!