Welcome back to The COO Solution Podcast! In this solo episode, host Derek Fredrickson breaks down one of the most common turning points for growing business owners — recognizing when your company has outgrown you as its operator.

Suppose you’ve been feeling stuck, overextended, or like your business only moves when you’re involved. In that case, this episode will help you identify the five clear signs that it’s time to bring in operational leadership. Derek shares how a Fractional COO bridges the gap between vision and execution, creating structure, accountability, and sustainable growth — so you can finally lead instead of manage.

In This Episode:

• [00:07] The Hidden Leadership Gap — Why growth feels heavy even when business is booming.
• [02:07] Sign #1: You’re the Bottleneck — When everything runs through you, speed and progress stall.
• [04:11] Sign #2: You’re Managing Instead of Leading — Why CEOs should be thinking, not doing.
• [05:16] Sign #3: You Have a Team, But No Accountability — How lack of clarity keeps your team busy, not productive.
• [06:19] Sign #4: You’ve Hit a Ceiling — Why hustle alone won’t get you to the next level.
• [08:10] Sign #5: You’re Losing Trust in Your Business — The emotional cost of constantly checking in.
• [09:38] The Cost of Waiting — What happens when you delay getting the proper operational support.
• [10:55] Real Client Transformation — How one founder went from chaos to clarity in 90 days.
• [11:48] Your Call to Action — How to know if your business is ready for a Fractional COO.

📌 Why This Matters

Freedom doesn’t come from doing more. It comes from letting go. When you wait too long to install operational leadership, growth stalls and burnout sets in. A Fractional COO helps you reclaim time, clarity, and trust in your business, so you can finally lead with focus and confidence.

✅ Action Steps for Listeners:

1. Identify which of the five signs describes your business right now.
2. Audit your role — are you leading, or managing?
3. Book a strategy call at thecoosolution.com to explore whether Fractional COO support is right for you.

Resources & Links:

• Free Quiz – Take the free 25-question quiz to see 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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