Nail it Before you Scale it

I am sure you have heard: You should learn how to walk before you learn how to run. The same goes for scaling: Nail it before you scale it. Nonetheless, scaling has become so popular that it seems the holy grail: If you do not scale and increase in size fast enough it will be your downfall. Scaling agile, scaling sales, scaling innovation, scaling organizations.

However, if you scale too fast or too early - your blunders and dysfunctions will also scale. And in many cases in magnitude greater.

From Good to Great

Many companies want to be big. And many CXOs or founders see size as a measure of success. Increased headcount, increased sales, increased presence in several countries, etc. Before you consider scaling or increasing anything, integrate as much continuous improvement as possible within the existing size constraints. Either through improved practices, new technology, or putting the right people in place and nurturing the desired culture. Until you can increase everything to the point where 1 plus 1 is greater than 2, you simply should not scale. Then you have a good foundation for scaling when needed, and a chance of actually go from Good to Great.

Culture = People

The company culture is a result of the people in the company and the values they inherit. Because when your values resonate, your culture flourishes, and behaviors align. It's the secret sauce to high-performing teams and innovation. So hiring the right people, with the right skill set and mindset - is more important to implement and fine-tune before scaling. Before you look at increased throughput from scaling the number of people, scrutinize your existing end-to-end processes and practices to make sure they can keep up. What can happen if you bring on board too many people? Too fast?

More People Too Fast Stresses Culture

The same thing happens to culture as does with you when you try to do too many things at the same time - too fast. You can't manage. You are overloaded. And as a result, you have a decline in productivity.

The same thing happens to organizations and the culture within. Your organization and culture are unable to assimilate your effort to scale people. No matter your excellent recruiting or onboarding process - your organization will at a certain level break. Production, auditing, marketing, finance, and customer support will be unproductive, or even fail.

And over time unproductive and unengaged employees are dissatisfied.

Instead of moving faster, you are moving slower. However, there is one thing that is increasing: the number of disgruntled employees.

Nail It Before You Scale It

So to nail it, first localize continuous improvement initiatives to get the most out of your current organization and people - before adding more people.

Do not add people but rather foster a culture that values problem-solving, continuous improvement, feedback, and collaboration.

The leadership also has a role in creating an environment where teams feel empowered to address and overcome blockers.

Unlocking Sustainable Growth: Nail It Before You Scale It

In the race to scale, the allure of rapid growth often overshadows the importance of a strong foundation. Scaling should not be a knee-jerk reaction but a strategic move built on a bedrock of excellence. The analogy is simple: enhance every aspect until 1 plus 1 becomes greater than 2.

Prioritize continuous improvement, foster a culture of problem-solving, and empower teams. Because in the journey from Good to Great, it is not just about scaling; it is about scaling wisely, ensuring that growth is sustainable and cultures thrive.