The Role of your CFO Roundtable
Many business owners fall into the same trap.
They believe they need to be the expert in everything. Operations, HR, accounting, legal, IT, strategy, hiring, and more.
But the truth is, that approach doesn’t lead to growth. It leads to burnout, bottlenecks, and costly blind spots.
If you want a business that is scalable, resilient, and prepared for what’s next, you need more than just your own expertise.
You need a leadership team.
Listen to the podcast episode:
The Problem: Business Ownership Feels Like a One-Person Job
At some point, business ownership got mislabeled as a one-person role.
The expectation became that the business owner should have all the answers and be responsible for every decision.
But strong businesses are not built that way.
They are built to operate effectively regardless of who is sitting in the leadership seat. That only happens when there is a structure in place that supports decision-making.
That structure is your leadership team.
You Don’t Need All the Answers — You Need the Right People
One of the biggest mindset shifts for business owners is this:
You are not supposed to have all the answers.
Your role is not to be the expert in every area of your business. Your role is to build a team of experts who support you.
This is how successful companies operate. They rely on a network of advisors and leaders who bring clarity, insight, and experience to the table.
When you have the right people around you, you make better decisions faster and with more confidence.
Your Leadership Team Already Exists (You Just Haven’t Defined It Yet)
For most business owners, the leadership team is already forming.
It just hasn’t been formalized.
Think about your weekly conversations:
Reviewing financials with your accountant
Talking through operations with a manager
Discussing hiring or team structure
Planning for upcoming projects or growth
These conversations are happening.
The difference is that they are happening by habit, not by design.
To build a stronger business, you need to move from informal conversations to an intentional leadership structure.
Who Should Be on Your Leadership Team?
A strong leadership team includes both internal and external roles. You don’t need a large group, but you do need the right expertise represented.
Here are the core roles every business should have access to:
1. Operations Leadership
Responsible for execution, delivery, and day-to-day performance. This could be a COO, operations manager, or service lead.
2. Sales and Marketing
Focused on revenue growth, pipeline development, pricing strategy, and market positioning.
3. HR and People Management
Supports hiring, team structure, compliance, and company culture.
4. Financial Leadership (CFO or Accounting Team)
Provides financial clarity, cash flow visibility, and decision support. This role helps you understand what is happening in your business and what comes next.
5. Legal Support
Protects your business through contracts, agreements, and compliance.
6. Tax Strategy
Goes beyond tax filing and focuses on year-round planning and financial impact.
7. Insurance and Risk Management
Ensures your business is protected as it grows and evolves.
8. Banking and Capital Resources
Provides access to funding and financial flexibility when needed.
9. IT and Technology
Manages systems, data security, and infrastructure to keep your business running efficiently.
Each of these roles plays a critical part in helping your business operate effectively and reduce risk.
Why a Leadership Team Improves Decision-Making
Without a defined leadership team, business owners often:
Delay decisions due to uncertainty
Try to solve problems outside their expertise
Hold onto stress and responsibility longer than necessary
React to issues instead of planning ahead
When you have a strong leadership team in place, decision-making becomes clearer and more efficient.
Instead of asking, “What should I do?” you ask, “Who should I talk to?”
That shift changes everything.
Your Leadership Team Should Be Active, Not Reactive
A common mistake is treating advisors like emergency contacts.
Only reaching out when something goes wrong creates delays and increases risk.
Your leadership team should be part of your regular rhythm.
These should be ongoing relationships where:
Your advisors understand your business
Communication is consistent
Everyone is aligned on your goals
When something changes, they are already informed and ready to help.
The Risk of Trying to Do Everything Yourself
One of the most common phrases business owners say is:
“I didn’t know what to do, so I just…”
That’s where problems start.
Instead, that sentence should end with:
“I didn’t know what to do, so I called someone on my team.”
When you rely on your leadership team, you reduce risk, improve outcomes, and move forward faster.
How to Build Your Leadership Team
If you want to strengthen your business, start here:
Identify who is already in your network
Evaluate which key roles are missing
Begin building stronger relationships with your advisors
Create regular touchpoints and communication rhythms
You don’t need to build this overnight. But you do need to be intentional.
Final Thought: Your Job Is to Build the Table
You are not meant to carry your business alone.
Your job is to build the table, not sit in every seat.
When you have the right people around you, you create a business that is more stable, more scalable, and better prepared for whatever comes next.
Because readiness isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about having the right people to help you find them.
Listen to the Full Episode
If this resonates, this is just the starting point.
In Episode 13 of R Readiness Lens, Sheri walks through real-world examples, deeper insights, and practical ways to uncover and address the blind spots in your business.
🎧 Listen to the full episode here:
