5 Lessons I Learned While Scaling My Business

Where do you see your business in 10 years?

Each year that I created a strategy for my business there was one goal that was ongoing and that was to scale. It’s a common end goal for every business because who wants to stay stagnant!

With that being said, scaling your business can mean something different for every business owner- making more money, adding services, creating another stream of income, building a team.

For me, scaling my business was building a team that would not only help me check tasks off my to-do list but also be there to support me as I hit my goals. I was essentially looking for the right hands to trust and build a lasting relationship with through the years. 

Here are a few hard lessons I learned when growing my team.

Lesson 1: We can’t do it alone.

Realizing we need help and can’t do everything on our own is hard to do, but once we embrace support there are endless opportunities for us. Collaborating with other skilled professionals, delegating tasks and fostering a strong teamwork culture has helped me recognize the strengths of others and leveraging their expertise brought fresh perspectives to the table. Truth is, we’ve achieved far more than we ever could have individually!

Lesson 2: Not finding the dream team right off the bat is par the course.

I wish I could say there is a way to find the right person each time, but you do your best to vet candidates, and unfortunately, sometimes they still don’t work out for one reason or another. We’ve encountered setbacks, made hiring mistakes, and faced challenges in building a cohesive team but this also taught us the importance of patience, adaptability, and clarity in the type of person who would be the right fit for our growing team. Don’t get discouraged!

Lesson 3: You will have to let go of control and not micromanage.

(This is still hard for me) Especially since my business is my name! It’s still a struggle for me, but I know the way to be an effective leader is to let your team rise to the occasion. I quickly realized that micromanaging and feeling the need to oversee every detail stifled creativity and slowed down productivity. The best thing to do is to step back, trust the people that you hired, provide support and guidance when needed but ultimately allow your team to thrive and contribute autonomously. 

Lesson 4: Hire based on chemistry.

Beyond just skills and qualifications, how you click with someone is not something that can be taught. I’ve found that harmony in my team contributes to smooth collaboration, more effective communication and morale remains high even in challenging times! A cohesive team is crucial.

Lesson 5: Lead (I am still working on this)

Don’t tell your team members every step of a process- lead them. Leadership isn’t about giving orders but rather setting clear goals, providing direction, and empowering others to achieve their full potential. One great characteristic of a leader is listening to your team. Be accepting of concerns and criticism and be open to new ideas that could potentially contribute to the improvement of the business. Oftentimes, they come up with something even better than what you had in mind.

Are you looking for guidance and proven strategies to scale?