Insights & Resources

​For co‑founders who want to reduce drama, close the alignment gap and build businesses that scale without burning out the partnership.
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Explore practical tools, case‑based articles and conversations on co‑founder dynamics, executive alignment​, culture and healthy leadership teams.

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Short, sharp pieces you can read in under 5 minutes and turn straight into better conversations with your co‑founder

I work with real founders and boards facing high-stakes decisions, conflict and change. Nothing on this page describes any specific client, organisation or case unless stated, and it should never be taken as legal advice. My aim is to offer practical ways to improve governance, alignment and decision-making so that people can deal with difficult situations responsibly and with respect for everyone involved.

Dive into real‑world patterns and practical frameworks for navigating co‑founder dynamics, leadership misalignment and the hidden costs of leaving issues at the top unaddressed. Many articles link directly to tools and conversations you can use with your own co‑founder or executive team.

Co-Founder Resources, Tools & Diagnostic Frameworks

Co‑Founder Alignment Canvas

A one‑page framework to map expectations, roles and decision rights between co‑founders before they turn into conflict.
Use it ahead of funding rounds, major hires or strategic pivots to surface hidden assumptions.

Created by Jane Hales, co‑founder strategist and author
Download the canvas

Executive Alignment Gap Checklist

A practical checklist to spot the early warning signs of misalignment in your leadership team long before it shows up in revenue or culture.
Ideal for founders and CEOs wanting a quick health‑check of their top team.

Created by Jane Hales, co‑founder strategist and author.
Get the checklist

Co‑Founder Conflict De‑Escalation Script

A simple conversation guide to move from blame and reactivity to shared responsibility when tension is high between senior leaders. Use it in high-stakes conversations about strategy, roles or ownership.

Created by Jane Hales, co‑founder strategist and author.
Download the script

Decision Charter for Big Calls

A structured one‑pager to capture how you and your co‑founder will make the next big decision — from fundraising and exits to senior hires and pivots.
Clarifies who has veto power, what “success” looks like, and how you’ll handle disagreement without stalling the business.

Created by Jane Hales, co‑founder strategist and author.
Download the decision charter

Founder Role & Energy Map

A practical worksheet to map what each founder actually does today versus where they add the most value and energy.
Use it to redesign roles, reduce overlap and stop both founders carrying everything “just in case”.

Created by Jane Hales, co‑founder strategist and author.
Get the role map

Board & Investor Expectations Reset

A guided template to align co‑founders and their board or investors on pace, risk appetite and what “good” looks like over the next 12–18 months.
Ideal after a funding round, a missed target or a change in strategy when tensions at the top are quietly rising.

Created by Jane Hales, co‑founder strategist and author.
Download the expectations template
These tools are excerpted from The Distance Between Us
Want guided support? Explore the Co-Founder Accelerator Program

Podcasts, Videos & Shorts

Hear unfiltered conversations with founders, co‑founders and advisors on what really breaks partnerships — and how to repair trust without losing the business.

Episodes blend narrative, practical tools and stories drawn from Jane Hales’ book and diagnostic toolkit.

.team Talks!

 Listen on your commute and bring one question from each episode back to your co‑founder or exec meeting

YouTube

Watch short breakdowns of common co‑founder patterns, alignment gaps and board‑level tensions.

Need 1:1 help applying these frameworks? Book a clarity call 

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