Intro

Matt Watson introduces the episode and guest Brittany Rastsmith, framing the topic of founders becoming bottlenecks.

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Transcript

Episode notes

If you’re running a startup, chances are you’re the bottleneck.

Brittany Rastsmith joins Product Driven to talk through why founders constantly end up in this trap and how to escape it. She works with early-stage companies through her consulting firm, Bloom Remote, and she's seen it all. We get into how to create clarity, visibility, and accountability across your team so you’re not stuck answering every question, solving every problem, or staying up all night wondering if anything is getting done.

If you want your team to take ownership and drive outcomes—not just check boxes—this episode is for you.

[01:00] - Why being the bottleneck it's a stage

[02:30] - Choose your hard: micromanage or build trust

[07:30] - How to measure what matters

[10:30] - Delegating doesn't work if you dump chaos

[14:30] - Explain your thinking if you want your team to carry it out

[16:00] - The power of decision logs and written rationale

[19:45] - Why psychological safety is key to team ownership

[21:30] - Rubber-stamping is the death of progress

[24:00] - Why most managers are untrained (and why that matters)

[28:00] - Productivity vs. busyness: where your team might be stuck

[29:15] - Inputs vs. outcomes: how to tell what's actually broken