#119 - Amy Buechler and Michael Seibel

About this episode

<p><a href="https://www.foundercoach.io/">Amy Buechler</a> is an executive coach for startup founders.<br><br><a href="https://twitter.com/mwseibel">Michael Seibel</a> is a partner and the CEO of YC.<br><br>In this episode we talk about coaching and use examples from Michael’s time working on Justin.tv and Socialcam.<br><br>You can find Amy at her site <a href="https://www.foundercoach.io/">foundercoach.io</a> and on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/amybue">@amybue</a>.<br><br>Michael is on Twitter at <a href="https://twitter.com/mwseibel">@mwseibel</a>.<br><br>The YC podcast is hosted by <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCannon">Craig Cannon</a>.<br><br>***<br><br><b>Topics</b><br><br>00:00 - Intro<br><br>00:41 - What is coaching?<br><br>01:11 - How is coaching different from therapy?<br><br>2:31 - What are the most common challenges founders in coaching have?<br><br>3:26 - Challenges with roles and responsibilities at Twitch<br><br>7:46 - How would Amy have coached Michael around roles and responsibilities?<br><br>9:41 - Not being disruptive as a leader<br><br>11:31 - Switching roles at Twitch<br><br>12:46 - Uneven equity splits<br><br>15:01 - Distributing and negotiating equity<br><br>21:16 - Communicating your own value<br><br>22:51 - Can there be too much communication?<br><br>24:11 - Productive arguments<br><br>28:11 - Talking about performance issues<br><br>30:16 - Setting clear goals and managing motivation<br><br>33:16 - Enjoying the work<br><br>34:01 - Conversations about runway<br><br>36:51 - Digging your company out of the grave and continuing<br><br>40:21 - Michael being against coaching initially<br><br>42:31 - How to have hard conversations<br><br>44:16 - Removing a responsibility from someone<br><br>49:51 - Returning to roles and responsibilities <br><br>50:41 - Jeanie McCallister asks - What’s the single most important piece of advice you can give a founder?<br></p>