Founder Bottleneck Scorecard

0 of 10 answered

Score every question from 1 to 10, where 1 is never true and 10 is always true. Answer honestly. The clearer your answers, the clearer your next move.

  1. 01Decision rights
    Can your team make decisions without you?

    1Nobody knows. It all comes to me.

    5Some know. Most ask anyway.

    10The limits are written down, and the team actually uses them.

  2. 02Ownership
    Do you have someone else leading each big goal?

    1I own most of them.

    5Owners exist on paper. I still chase them.

    10One name per goal, and they report without being asked.

  3. 03Visibility
    Can you quickly see what's on track and what's falling behind?

    1I usually find out late.

    5I can see some of it, but not everything.

    10I can clearly see what's on track and what needs attention.

  4. 04Key-person risk
    If you were away for 2 weeks, would the work still move?

    1Things stop within days.

    5Work continues, but decisions stack up for my return.

    10Two weeks pass and nothing important waits.

  5. 05Escalation
    Does your team bring you answers, not problems?

    1Everything arrives raw.

    5Mixed. Some think first, some don't.

    10They bring a recommendation. I mostly say yes.

  6. 06Operating rhythm
    Do you have one weekly meeting to check the plan?

    1No such meeting, or it gets cancelled when things get busy.

    5It happens, but it is a status update. Nothing gets decided.

    10Same day every week. Numbers reviewed, issues closed, never skipped.

  7. 07Hard conversations
    Did you handle every hard talk this month?

    1More than one has been waiting for months.

    5One is still waiting.

    10None waiting. I handle them in days, not weeks.

  8. 08Plan clarity
    Is your plan for the next 90 days written, up to date, and clear to everyone?

    1The plan is in my head.

    5Written, but old - or only leadership has seen it.

    10Written, current, and anyone can tell you their part of it.

  9. 09Founder leverage
    Did you spend most of last week doing work only you could do?

    1Almost none of it. I cleaned up other people’s work, evenings and weekends included.

    5About half. The other half was work someone else should own.

    10Most of it - on vision, key people and the big calls.

  10. 10Delivery
    Be honest - did your last three big deadlines actually land when you promised they would?

    1None of them.

    5One of three - or they landed after the date moved.

    10All three, on the first date given.

Last step

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Your score appears on this page either way. The email carries the full ten-line breakdown and what to do about the two weakest.

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