Amy Buechler is an executive coach for startup founders.

https://www.foundercoach.io/
  / amybue  

Michael Seibel is a partner and the CEO of YC.

  / mwseibel  

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.

  / 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?