One Thing: Restructure

One Thing: Restructure

The hidden challenges of adapting and thriving in business.

If there’s one constant in business, it’s change. Growth isn’t linear, and neither is leadership. Over the years, I’ve learned that restructuring is one of the hardest—and most essential—tasks for any business leader. It’s not glamorous, and it rarely makes headlines, but it’s where real progress happens.

This year, my team and I have navigated some of the most significant changes in our business’s journey. I want to share a few of these experiences—lessons from the trenches of growth, contraction, and rebuilding.

Growth Demands Evolution

As your business grows, you quickly realise that the structure you started with won’t always serve you. Restructuring isn’t just about people; it’s about creating the right environment for the next phase of growth. This can mean rethinking everything from titles and reporting lines to how decisions are made.

In our case, this year’s restructuring included:

• Reducing the Number of Chiefs: We shifted away from a structure with too many senior-level 'chiefs' overseeing work and instead brought in experienced middle management. These are people who thrive in getting things done, not just supervising.
• Simplifying Decision-Making: Too many layers of approval were slowing us down. I’ve taken back the lead on key areas where decisions were bottlenecked by unnecessary filters. Streamlining processes has allowed us to move faster and focus on execution.

The Hard Decisions

Restructuring is rarely comfortable. One of the most challenging moments this year was reducing headcount from 45 to 35. Redundancies aren’t in anyone’s comfort zone, but they were necessary for us to focus on our core products and create a leaner, more efficient team.

It’s easy to avoid these decisions, but that’s not leadership. For me, it’s about doing what’s right for the business, even when it’s uncomfortable. The result? A more focused team, greater clarity on our direction, and improved productivity.

Overcommunication is Key

One of the biggest surprises for new employees? The sheer volume of communication they receive. From monthly presentations to regular team updates, I make it a point to overcommunicate.

Why? Because clarity is critical. As leaders, we can’t assume everyone knows the direction of the business or the rationale behind decisions. If you’re not actively communicating your vision, you leave room for doubt, confusion, or misalignment.

Leadership Lessons From the Trenches

Restructuring has taught me a few key lessons about leadership:

1. People Matter Most: Surround yourself with the right people—those who believe in the vision and are willing to adapt.
2. Decisions Need Speed: Don’t let bureaucracy slow you down. Create a structure that allows for quick, informed decision-making.
3. Overcommunication Beats Assumptions: Assume no one knows your plan unless you’ve told them, and then tell them again.
4. Balance Data and Gut: Data drives decisions, but your gut—shaped by experience—will guide you when the numbers don’t tell the full story.

Scaling With Purpose

This year, we’ve transitioned from writing almost 100 loans a year to 100 loans a quarter. That kind of growth doesn’t happen without intentional planning:

• Building the Right Teams: We’ve focused on hiring for specific roles that align with our growth strategy.
• Clear Lines of Communication: With more moving parts, we’ve had to refine how teams interact and ensure information flows smoothly across departments.

Scaling isn’t just about doing more; it’s about doing more without compromising on quality or efficiency.

Time is Your Most Valuable Resource

One of the most personal changes I’ve made this year is managing my own time. At one point, I was in over 30 meetings a week. It left me no space to take meaningful action or focus on big-picture strategy.

Now, I’ve reduced my meeting load significantly, freeing up time to lead, plan, and execute. If you feel like your calendar is running you, it’s time to take control.

Why Growth Requires Hard Choices

Growth isn’t about coasting—it’s about constant evolution. Complacency is the enemy. If you ever feel like your work is “done,” it’s likely the beginning of a decline. Restructuring, however difficult, keeps you ahead of the curve.

Final Thought: Change is Growth

Restructuring is never easy, but it’s a necessary part of running a thriving business. This year has reinforced for me that leadership isn’t about avoiding hard choices—it’s about making them with confidence, clarity, and purpose.

To all the leaders out there: Don’t shy away from change. Embrace it. It’s where growth happens.

What About You?

What’s been your biggest challenge in navigating change this year? I’d love to hear your story—let’s learn from each other.

Share your experience in the comments!