Amy Buechler is an executive coach for startup founders.
https://www.foundercoach.io/
https://twitter.com/amybue
Michael Seibel is a partner and the CEO of YC.
In this episode we talk about coaching and use examples from Michael’s time working on Justin.tv and Socialcam.
The YC podcast is hosted by Craig Cannon.
https://twitter.com/craigcannon
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Topics
00:10 – What is coaching?
00:40 – How is coaching different from therapy?
2:00 – What are the most common challenges founders in coaching have?
2:55 – Challenges with roles and responsibilities at Twitch
7:15 – How would Amy have coached Michael around roles and responsibilities?
9:10 – Not being disruptive as a leader
11:00 – Switching roles at Twitch
12:15 – Uneven equity splits
14:30 – Distributing and negotiating equity
20:45 – Communicating your own value
22:20 – Can there be too much communication?
23:40 – Productive arguments
27:40 – Talking about performance issues
29:45 – Setting clear goals and managing motivation
32:45 – Enjoying the work
33:30 – Conversations about runway
36:20 – Digging your company out of the grave and continuing
39:50 – Michael being against coaching initially
42:00 – How to have hard conversations
43:45 – Removing a responsibility from someone
49:20 – Returning to roles and responsibilities
50:10 – Jeanie McCallister asks – What’s the single most important piece of advice you can give a founder?