Why Your Visionary-Integrator Relationship Is Failing (And What to Do About It)

If you’re reading this, there’s a decent chance the EOS Visionary–Integrator relationship at your company isn’t exactly soaring. Maybe it's flatlined. Maybe it’s limping along. Or maybe it's in that awkward zone where no one says anything, but everyone feels something’s off.

Here at The Metiss Group, we’ve developed the industry’s best Integrator selection and onboarding services. Through The Visionary-Integrator Catalyst™, we show our clients how to select the right Integrator for their needs, and we follow it with 12 months of onboarding support to help our clients build a dynamic duo.  

In this article, we’ll share our secrets for why Visionary-Integrator relationships fall apart and what to do about it:

• Symptoms of Visionary-Integrator Trouble
  • The end-around: bypassing the Integrator
  • The shadow effect: Visionary still does all the heavy lifting
• Root Causes behind Visionary-Integrator Fallout
  • Visionary doesn’t want to let go of control
  • Visionary doesn’t have clarity in new role
  • Integrator can’t hold themselves accountable
  • Integrator has the same personality as Visionary
• How to Prevent the Breakdown
  • Define Visionary’s role first
  • Use job scorecard to define accountabilities in both roles
  • Use multi-science assessments to understand communication styles
• Signs it’s time to part ways
  • Avoiding meetings 
  • Working around each other instead of together

Symptoms of Visionary-Integrator Relationship Problems

The earliest signs are usually subtle. Easy to brush off until they’re not.

One classic symptom is the “end-around.” Someone doesn’t like the answer they got from the Integrator, so they take their question straight to the Visionary. It’s like when you didn’t like what Mom said, so you tried Dad instead. Except now they’re a grown adult doing it with org charts.

Even worse, sometimes the visionary doesn’t realize they’re being used like a human override button. They’re just answering questions like they always have. But in the background, authority is quietly gutted. No one’s clear on who’s making decisions anymore.

Then there’s the shadow effect. The Integrator is technically in the role, but the Visionary is still doing all the heavy lifting. Or stepping in constantly. Or second-guessing decisions. 

Slowly but surely, your Integrator inadvertently becomes a glorified assistant.

Root Causes Behind the Visionary-Integrator Fallout

Let’s break it down. There are a handful of recurring reasons these relationships go sideways, and they usually fall into one of these buckets.

The Visionary Doesn’t Want to Let Go of Control

They say they do. They hire the Integrator. But deep down, they don’t trust them yet. So the Visionary says, “Just follow me around for a bit. Get to know the business. Learn the people.” However, that shadowing period never ends.

Weeks go by, maybe months, and the Integrator is still watching but never leading. The Visionary keeps holding on — not out of sabotage, but out of fear. This company is their baby. Every system, every client, every fire they’ve ever put out...it’s personal. The idea of giving up control, even to someone capable, just feels impossible.

The Visionary Doesn’t Understand What They’ll Be Doing in the New Role

A lot of visionaries imagine handing off operations will give them more time and freedom, but they don’t actually know what they’ll do with it. They haven’t defined what their new role looks like. So they end up drifting back into execution because they’re bored or restless.

The Integrator Can’t Hold Themselves Accountable to Get Things Done

Some folks like the idea of being an Integrator. They have the résumé for it. But in practice, they’re loose with deadlines. They treat Rocks like suggestions. They don't run a clean meeting cadence. They don’t follow through.

Worse, some want to be liked more than they want to lead. So they don’t hold others accountable, either. The problem with this is the Visionary is then expected to hold the Integrator accountable, if not everyone on the leadership team, and that's not the reason the Visionary wanted to hire the Integrator!

The Visionary Hires Someone They Could Grab A Beer With 

Visionaries tend to hire people they like. But those people are usually wired like them: quick-starts, idea-heavy, allergic to routine.

Now you’ve got two visionaries and zero traction.

Without an Ideal Candidate Avatar — part of our Integrator selection hiring service — it’s hard to know exactly what you need in a role. We once had one client say after an interview, “I loved him! I could totally see myself grabbing a beer with him after work.”

We had to bring him back down to reality: he didn’t need someone he could grab a beer with. He needed someone accountable with a high attention to detail.

How to Prevent the Breakdown

This relationship can absolutely work — but only if you set it up correctly.

Define the Visionary Role First

Before you even think about hiring or promoting an Integrator, get crystal clear on what the Visionary will actually be doing under the new reporting structure. If you don’t know, no one else will either.

When the visionary role is defined, stakeholders get on board. The visionary gets energized about future projects instead of meddling in day-to-day stuff. The executive team knows what to expect, and instead of feeling like they’re receiving a demotion, they’re excited about how the new Integrator is going to make everyone’s jobs easier.

Use The Job Scorecard™ to Define Accountabilities

This is our secret weapon. A Job Scorecard™ outlines exactly what success looks like in each seat. No ambiguity. No finger-pointing. Just clear roles, responsibilities, and measurable outcomes. If the Integrator doesn’t know what winning looks like, they’re just guessing.

And when both seats are clearly defined, it creates respect, accountability, and synergy. Work becomes easier in both roles.

Use Multi-Science Assessments to Understand Each Other Better

People aren’t spreadsheets. They come with quirks, preferences, motivators, and friction points. The more you understand each other, the fewer landmines down the road.

At The Metiss Group, we use multiple assessments to get a full picture: how someone behaves, how they make decisions, what energizes them, and where they’re likely to struggle. Using a detailed comparison report, the Visionary and Integrator can understand how each person prefers to communicate — and ways NOT to communicate with each other.

Signs It’s Time to Part Ways

Sometimes, despite all the best intentions, it just doesn’t work. If you’re the visionary and…

• You’re avoiding meetings with your Integrator,
• You’re waking up stressed because of them,
• You find yourself working around them instead of with them…

It might be time to move on.

The same goes if the Integrator is no longer engaged, avoids accountability, or has become a silent passenger in the business. These roles are too critical to fake.

If you're at that point, we’re happy to help you figure out the next steps. Whether that’s coaching through a tough conversation or kicking off the search for your next Integrator, we’ve got your back.

Final Thought

The EOS Visionary-Integrator relationship is one of the most powerful combos a company can have. But only when it’s built with clarity, honesty, and the right tools. Otherwise, it's just two people stuck in a frustrating loop.

Here at The Metiss Group, we help our clients get the clarity and partnership they were actually hoping for when they kicked off their Rocket Fuel journey. Our Integrator Hiring services are the industry’s best.

Now that you understand why your Visionary-Integrator Relationship is falling apart — and what to do about it — the next step is to understand the best way to hire an Integrator. In this article, we’ll compare working with a recruiter vs. working with The Metiss Group, so you can ensure your next Integrator hire is the right fit for you.