My husband took over as CEO of the company I founded years ago. It wasn’t a power grab, and it strengthened our relationship.

• My husband took over as CEO of my business after careful consideration.

• I learned how to let go, trust my husband, and release consequences.

• Our marriage flourished amidst the growing pains of our business.

“You know…your husband was preparing to become CEO.” trusted advisor Our executive team made it clear during a meeting.

I laughed.

It was March 2020. I had just shared that I had had a recurring vision for months that I would not be the CEO of Kingdom Driven Entrepreneur, the company I founded nearly eight years ago. It was frustrating because there was no logical successor and I wasn’t sure how to best prepare for the transition.

My husband, Phil, wasn’t even on my list of possibilities. He was extremely pleased with himself massage therapy practical. He loved his job, and his only functional role in my job was to be a listening ear and voice of wisdom.

But after I finished laughing during that meeting, I realized that as surprising as it was to hear those words, it was certainly within the realm of possibility.

I told Phil about the meeting and we had a great laugh. He acknowledged it was possible, but he also wouldn’t sign up for the job unless he was sure. I decided to pray about it, let it go, and see how things develop.

That September, after a series of unusual and confirming circumstances, he agreed to step into the CEO role in November. I would be a member of the organization executive consultantand we would continue as co-owners.

Complexities of transition

It wasn’t hard at first to accept the fact that I was no longer the decision maker in my company. In some ways this was a relief. But after about six months, the truth came out and it wasn’t easy at all.

Phil’s priorities were different from mine. His skill sets and leadership style it was completely different. His decision making and execution developed more slowly than mine.

None of this came as a surprise to me because we’ve been together since we were 16. We were a full-time entrepreneurial family with separate businesses for over a decade. I know my husband and value our differences and his strengths, but I had to learn how to value those differences as the new leader of my “baby” who eventually grew into multiple groups. six-figure income job.

I had to constantly remind myself of my path, and when my founder instincts kicked in, I had to figure out how and when to share my thoughts without getting upset if Phil didn’t agree with them all or take action.

The challenges weren’t just about adjusting to our new roles; financial difficulties also emerged. This did not happen immediately, but eventually all the weaknesses in our operational structure were exposed. A lot of the work was focused on the work I was doing when I was the founder and CEO, and now there were gaps that needed to be filled. In order to scale global impact and reach the next level, we both knew things had to change.

I learned to let go

The financial hit was a hard pill to swallow for me, mostly because I couldn’t help the team when needed. I also needed to focus on my writing, speaking, and consulting work.

I chose to trust Phil to lead the way he is uniquely gifted. I chose to reveal the results even though it was uncomfortable. These were not one-time choices, but choices I made frequently.

Completely shedding the founder/CEO identity did not happen overnight. Phil and I had years of sensitivity and transparency. weekly meetings. At times, I had tearful conversations with my trusted advisors. And it definitely took a lot of prayer.

Our relationship is stronger today

Our 26-year marriage is certainly not perfect, but it is stronger and our friendship is rock solid.

We have both learned how to resolve conflicts effectively when there are differing opinions. Phil learned how to obtain my insight, consider it carefully, and move forward with his convictions. I’ve learned to let go of the good to make room for the good.

Regarding the last five years since the transition, Phil recently said: “We’ve built up muscle.” I agree wholeheartedly. Doing business as a couple is a journey that requires active faith and patient endurance. There is no one in the world I would rather be with on this adventure.

Shae Bynes is an author, speaker, and executive consultant who helps small business CEOs lead and get results without sacrificing what matters most. Connect to LinkedIn.

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