How to shift your mindset and lead for the future

For any new entrepreneur, the startup phase can be the scariest and most challenging part of starting a business. After surviving those precarious initial months, you’ll settle into a comfortable place with revenue coming in and systems running on auto-pilot. But in order to keep it up, your company is bound to grow again, which can only mean one thing: you’re about to be propelled into a whole new state of uncertainty and discomfort. 

Scaling and growing can be uncomfortable AF but it’s the only way to evolve into a fully functioning company that can scale revenue models and add new priorities to the company strategy—and a roster of clients begging to work with you. And as a company that is currently in the midst of an uncomfortable scale and growth phase, we wanted to share some of the things we are learning in real time.

Here are 5 things to know about scaling and growing your startup: 

1. Your systems will (and should!) be constantly evolving

An important part of managing a growing business is implementing systems that support your projects and your team. Systems are meant to make things easier, not harder! 

Start by evaluating your existing systems and processes. Are they working for you? If not, it may be time to iterate as you go so you aren’t scrambling when things become too intense to manage. 

Be willing to invest. A good project management system may cost more money than the Google Sheet you have been working with, but it will repay itself in the number of grey hairs you’ll save yourself from! More seriously, a good project management software can also help prevent major mistakes that could cost you a lot of time and resources to correct. 

For example, in our case, we recently invested in an office space. While we are still primarily an agile and remote team, it became time for us to invest in a central hub where we can have meetings and collaborate together more efficiently and immersively. There is no shame in admitting some things aren’t working or need to be re-imagined and it’s actually more responsible to evolve as business needs change. 

2. Be transparent with clients 

The growth phase is not always smooth sailing, and while it may be tempting to play it cool as much as possible, don’t try to hide it from your clients. They aren’t stupid: they knew who you were and the size of your business when they started working with you. That’s what they love about you! 

But there is no doubt that you may need to have some awkward conversations about what your team is really capable of and where you face limitations. Let them know how you are managing these changes and what you are doing to think forward. 

Be honest about the fact that even though things are not ideal in the moment, you are scaling to make changes for the next project. They will admire your foresight and honest approach to running your business.

3. Spend wisely (and don’t be afraid to ask for help)

With any small business, finances are usually front of mind. In the early days, it can feel like money goes out the door as quickly as it comes in, which can leave you feeling unsteady. That said, you must be open to spending during a growth phase in order to invest in your business. 

If you’re unsure about your financial state or don’t feel equipped to handle the daily ins-and-outs, work with an accountant! Many accountants will charge a fee for certain services but also offer support and assistance free of charge, so you can ask questions anytime you’re unsure. 

Also, look into grants! Depending on where you live and what industry you work in, your government may provide grants for small businesses. This is a great way to get a head start on your company’s growth, expand your brand awareness in your community as well as globally, and feel more confident taking financial risks to grow your business with that support in place.

4. It’s time to shift into the mindset of a leader

When you are first starting out, you may think of yourself as someone who is doing *all the things*, and just happy to be in business. But as your business grows, it’s extremely important to step into the role of a leader, and a lot of that starts with your mindset. 

The scale and growth phase is the time to do the deep work on yourself in shifting your identity as a leader. It’s time to shift your perspective from one of a “small beans” business to the leader of a growing company that requires company vision, functional systems, and a strong team. As a startup, you may not want to let those things define you, but as you grow, you have to pivot your thinking into a new area of responsibility. Your clients are depending on you evolving your processes and model of doing business, and that can feel like a lot of pressure. 

Remember, leadership is not just about ticking off boxes, finding an office, or hiring a team. Leadership starts with you and your identity, and those other things will naturally fall into place after you do the work on yourself and step up to the plate. 

5. Take care of yourself and your team 

With so much on the go, it’s easy to let your own self-care go. It’s not unusual for new entrepreneurs to let their diet go out the window, to start skipping workouts, and to cancel plans with friends to instead stay in and crank out a deadline or the neverending stream of things that need to get done. Remember that as a leader of a growing business, it’s essential for you to take care of yourself and create space to take care of your team too. And while it may not seem like it, taking care of yourself is often more important than anything else in your business. 

Here are some tips for staying on top of self-care for both yourself and your team:

• Business can be stressful and you’ll be expected to manage a lot of unknowns. Make sure that you are making time for fitness, which helps to alleviate stress and keeps your mental capacity sharp. 

• Many successful entrepreneurs meditate. Download a meditation app to help you give that busy brain of yours a break and let go of any thoughts consuming you that relate to work. 

• Make time for a social life. It can be extremely hard to walk away from unfinished projects or unanswered emails, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need to reignite your creativity. Try to give yourself a shut off time for no more tech (i.e. after 8pm)—and stick to it. 

• Separate work and personal by working outside of your home as much as possible, whether that’s in an office, a coworking space, or even a cafe. This allows you to return to your home as a sanctuary, rather than an office space. 

• Make sure your team knows that even if you are online 24/7 (tsk tsk!), that they don’t have to be. Encourage your team to take breaks and vacation days, and to shut off completely while away. Reinforce with them that it’s good for them to have time off. 

• Take care of your team by treating them to a meal while working or an Uber ride home after a long day. And celebrate their hard work with holiday parties or project wrap parties! Being cognizant and encouraging of others’ self care and personal lives is key to great leadership. 

Growth is really scary, so go easy on yourself during this phase. There are a lot of unknowns that will make you feel like you are back to square one and just starting out, so don’t forget to reflect on how far you have come and celebrate the small wins. Things can go sideways and you may not meet a deadline during this phase, but don’t beat yourself up over everything. Keep focused on what you need to do to iterate in real time and push yourself to the next level. 

It’s going to be messy, it’s going to be uncomfortable, but in the end, I can promise you this: it’s going to be so, so worth it.