243. Managing Fast Growth and Change with Robert Gauvreau

The CEO Help Desk from Run Like Clockwork

In this coaching session, Adrienne Dorison and Emily Doyle sit down with Robert Gauvreau, CEO of Gauvreau CPA, to tackle a major challenge — navigating a fast-growing team and a recent acquisition.

If you've ever struggled with managing change, integrating new teams, or setting clear expectations, this one's for you!

Here's what we cover: ✅ How to lead through acquisitions without creating friction ✅ The power of curiosity in change management ✅ Building trust with a newly acquired team ✅ Why user manuals are the key to working better together ✅ How to clarify roles and KPIs for better performance

Robert shares how his company grew from 18 employees to over 180 in just a few years — and the lessons learned along the way.

Plus, Adrienne and Emily break down: 👉 How to approach a team integration without overwhelming them 👉 The importance of clear expectations and performance outcomes 👉 Why understanding individual work styles increases team cohesion

If you're navigating growth and want to avoid common integration mistakes, this episode is packed with actionable takeaways. Hit play and let's get into it! 🔥

Top 5 Takeaways:

1. Lead with Curiosity – Approach change with curiosity rather than assumptions. Trust your team's knowledge and listen to their insights.

2. Establish User Manuals – Creating personal user manuals helps team members understand how to work together more effectively.

3. Slow and Steady Wins – When managing an acquisition, avoid rushing changes. Build trust first before implementing new systems.

4. Clarify KPIs and Roles – Employees perform better when they know exactly what's expected of them.

5. Adapt and Learn – Even with a successful team, there's always room to learn from new additions and different systems.

Chapters

01:24 – Robert's Business Background – How Robert built his CPA firm from 18 to 180 employees. 04:20 – Managing a New Acquisition – Robert's challenge of integrating a newly acquired team. 07:43 – The Importance of Curiosity in Leadership – Why listening first builds trust and reduces friction. 11:56 – Creating a User Manual – How user manuals improve team communication and understanding. 18:36 – Setting Clear Expectations – How to define KPIs and roles to improve performance. 25:21 – Learning from Change – Why cross-learning is key in mergers and acquisitions.

Connect with Robert:

👉 Website: https://www.gauvreaucpa.ca👉 Social Media: @gauvreaucpa 👉 Robert's Personal Handle: @robertgauvreau