Change is hard. Changing your mindset is harder.
This is likely one of the hardest things to do for startup founders. However, the eventual scale and success of the business may depend on this.
When you are a startup you’ll do whatever it takes to get the product built. You might end up coding, building the website or doing all the sales and support yourself or with the help of a very small team.
There isn’t much structure, much process, much of anything, except for the need to establish a foothold and prove that you are building something of value for someone.
This is called the “hustle” mode.
However, especially in the B2B market, the hustle can take you only so far. You may get the first 5, 10, even 20 customers. But now you want to get to 100 or even 500. So what should you do?
Not only do you have to evolve your mindset but have to actually start building systems for building products, systems for generating leads, and systems for selling and servicing.
This is known as a transition to “structured growth”. Here’s what it entails.
To successfully achieve structured growth, startups need to build robust systems. This involves creating processes and workflows that can handle increased demand efficiently and effectively. For example, implementing agile development methodologies for product development, adopting CRM tools for sales and lead management, and using customer support ticketing systems for better customer service.
In addition to systems, the team must also undergo a mindset shift. They need to embrace the value of structure and understand the importance of processes in achieving long-term success. This may require training existing team members or hiring new ones who have experience in managing structured growth. This training in turn can reap many benefits some of which are highlighted below.
Making the transition to structured growth can be challenging but the benefits are significant. Startups that successfully navigate this change will better position themselves for continued growth and success in their respective markets. They can serve a larger customer base, streamline operations, and build a foundation for scalability.
While changing mindsets and transitioning from a hustle mode to structured growth is not easy, it is essential for long term success.
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