You can’t scale past $1M–$2M/year without a leadership team.
Not contractors.
Not “senior team members.”
Not people who are really good but need your direction.
A true leadership team.
The kind that:
- Owns numbers
- Runs departments
- Makes decisions
- Holds others accountable
- Shields you from the chaos
If you want a business that runs without you, this is how you get there.
The Wrong Way to Build a Leadership Team
Most agency owners promote their best performers into leadership.
The best strategist becomes the Strategy Lead.
The best media buyer becomes the Performance Director.
The best account manager becomes Head of Client Services.
But here’s the issue:
Being great at the work does NOT equal being great at leading the work.
Leadership is a different skill set entirely.
The Right Way to Build a Leadership Team for Your Marketing Agency
1. Define the Seats Before the People
Using the EOS Accountability Chart:
- Sales
- Marketing
- Delivery
- Finance
- Operations
Create the seat — then find the person.
2. Define What “Excellent” Means in Your Agency
For each seat, define:
- 5–7 KPIs
- Weekly responsibilities
- Decisions they own
- What great looks like
People can only perform when expectations are black-and-white.
3. Hire or Develop Leaders Who Can Make Decisions
A real leader, proactively…
- Solves problems
- Manages complexity
- Makes decisions without you
- Drives results through others
- Communicates clearly
- Doesn’t crumble under pressure
This is where most agencies fall apart — they hire managers, not leaders.
4. Install the Meeting Rhythm
A leadership team only works if you meet with cadence:
- Weekly L10
- Monthly metrics review
- Quarterly planning
- Annual strategy
Without meetings, leadership turns into chaos.
5. Stop Rescuing People
If every small fire still comes to you, your leadership team is fake.
Your Leadership Team Is Your Exit Strategy
Buyers don’t buy your brand.
They buy your leadership infrastructure.
A great leadership team can increase your valuation 2–3x — because the business becomes truly scalable and transferable.
The Goal of Building a Leadership Team for Your Marketing Agency
You spend 80% of your time in:
- Vision
- Strategy
- Relationships
- Big opportunities
- M&A
Your team runs everything else.
That’s what a real agency CEO looks like.