It is hard enough to start a business but growing a business can be equally difficult. According to Verne Harnish, CEO of Gazelles Growth Institute, “Scaling a business requires discipline and focus.”
Speaking at a meeting I recently attended, Harnish said too often people within an organization don’t know what they are supposed to be focusing on or the company as a whole is focusing on too many things at once.
Employee engagement is vital as businesses scale, and Harnish said communication is an important element of engagement. “Tell stories as a way to communicate and get things done,” he said. “Have a conversation and debate issues rather than just reviewing spreadsheets.”
Some companies that have successfully scaled up have instituted daily huddles — quick meetings of no more than 10 minutes — and regular “all hands” meetings to ensure important information gets shared throughout the organization
This allows you to ensure everyone is aligned with the corporate vision and mission. You can also let everyone know what they are expected to achieve. “It is time we let go of the analogy that ‘we treat people like family’ and switch to the analogy of a professional sports team with coaches, rules and scoreboards,” Harnish said.
He reminded the audience that no one has achieved peak performance without a coach who provides feedback. “That is how we improve.” A leader’s job is to make employees’ jobs easier. Employees will not care for your customers if you do not care for them,” he said.
To successfully grow your business, you need to keep your eye on the big goal while also helping employees focus on what to do next in order to achieve that goal.
