How to Build a 2nd Leadership Layer So Your Business Doesn’t Rely on You
Most recruitment agencies don’t have a second-tier leadership strategy - they have a few trusted individuals they’re hoping will hold everything together. Agencies talk a lot about growth, performance and scale, but far fewer look closely at the leadership structure underpinning it all. As businesses move into the next phase of growth, cracks in decision-making, accountability and ownership become harder - and more expensive - to ignore. Many owners and directors know their leadership bench isn’t quite right… but it’s often left until something breaks. Bottlenecks, constant escalation, firefighting and over-reliance on the founder quietly drain momentum, limit growth and damage exit value - all while teams are expected to do more with less. ⭐ Fixing leadership gaps isn’t about promoting your best biller or reacting when things start to wobble. ⭐ It’s about making the right second-tier leadership decisions early to protect performance and reduce risk. ⭐ Your leadership structure should scale as the agency scales - not hold it back So if strong second-tier leadership is essential for growth, freedom and exit value… what does good actually look like - and where should owners start? My guest on this episode is Matt Fox, Managing Director of Exitus Advisory & Polaris Growth. Having built, sold and exited his own recruitment business, Matt now works with agency owners to help them plan their individual journey - setting clear goals and achieving exits, MBOs, growth milestones or income targets. He knows first-hand the day-to-day challenges and setbacks recruitment business owners face, and exactly what can derail an exit plan if it isn’t managed carefully. We will cover: 💡 Why a weak 2nd tier of leadership keeps owners stuck 💡 Why top billers don’t always make great leaders 💡 How owners can share control without risking the business If you want to stop being the glue holding everything together, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. I look forward to having you there.
