Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast. In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson tackles a challenge nearly every founder faces at some point: running a business in constant crisis mode.

If your days are filled with urgent decisions, constant interruptions, and putting out fires instead of leading strategically, this episode will feel uncomfortably familiar. Derek breaks down why reactive leadership drains your energy, stalls growth, and keeps your team dependent on you, and more importantly, how to shift into proactive leadership that creates stability, predictability, and freedom.

You’ll learn how strong systems, clear accountability, and the support of a second-in-command can move your business out of survival mode and into sustainable growth.

[00:00] Crisis Mode Defined What it looks like when your business is running you instead of the other way around.

[01:16] Why Reactive Leadership Fails Why urgency feels productive but quietly kills growth, focus, and team performance.

[02:24] The Founder Bottleneck How scaling without structure turns the CEO into the central point of failure.

[03:40] Signs You’re Stuck in Crisis Mode Long hours, rushed decisions, inconsistent execution, and a team waiting for direction.

[04:47] The Shift to Proactive Leadership How to move from reacting to problems to preventing them altogether.

[05:56] Identifying Recurring Chaos How to spot patterns, recurring emergencies, and energy drains that need systems—not effort.

[06:56] The Role of a Fractional COO How a trusted second-in-command creates operational stability and protects the founder’s time.

[07:15] What Stability Actually Looks Like Real-world results when systems, ownership, and decision-making are no longer centralized.

[08:12] The Systems That Stop Firefighting Why SOPs, workflows, and clear communication eliminate repeat problems.

[09:17] Your Actionable Challenge Identify three recurring issues this week and assign ownership to one, or build a process for one.

📌 Why This Matters

Running your business in crisis mode isn’t a badge of honor—it’s a warning sign. When everything feels urgent, nothing truly moves forward. Proactive leadership allows you to step out of daily chaos, empower your team, and create a business that runs predictably without your constant involvement.

Stability doesn’t come from working harder. It comes from structure, clarity, and the right support.

✅ Action Steps for Listeners:

• Identify three recurring issues that consume your time every week.
• Assign clear ownership or create a process for at least one of them.
• Document one workflow that currently lives only in your head.
• Consider whether a fractional COO could help you shift from reaction to leadership.

• Free Quiz – Find out if your business is ready for the support of a Fractional COO: https://thecoosolution.com
• Podcast Page – https://thecoosolution.com/podcast

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👉 If this episode resonated, share it with a founder who’s stuck in firefighting mode and ready to lead proactively.

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