6 Business Growing Pains (and How to Fix Them)

As businesses start to find early traction and growth, they often struggle with a new set of challenges that can threaten their upward trajectory. I've seen it happen time and again — companies hit roadblocks that can stall progress and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Overcoming these growing pains requires implementing deliberate, comprehensive strategies. Simply operating based on gut instinct or ad hoc tactics often isn't enough. Here are some common challenges I frequently encounter that strategic thinking can help solve:

Challenge #1: Ownership Gets Complacent

The founders who poured blood, sweat, and tears into starting the business can ease off the gas pedal after hitting initial milestones. 

Strategy: Create a clear long-term vision and strategy to provide continued focus. Set big, hairy, audacious goals (BHAGs) so you never feel like you've "arrived" or are done. Continuously research growth opportunities and set ambitious milestones for the future. Bring in fresh talent who aspire for more and get out of their way.

Challenge #2: Growth Pressures Without Accountability

Organizations push for aggressive scaling without tracking metrics or holding people accountable. 

Strategy: Provide clear direction, set specific goals, define how progress will be measured, and establish accountability. Remove blockers for teams and help them grow rather than just demanding more output.

Challenge #3: Frequent Pivots and Lack of Follow-Through

Teams get distracted chasing new ideas before finishing prior initiatives.

Strategy: Established an unwavering adherence to a well-defined strategy prevents aimless shifts. Constantly changing direction creates confusion, cultural issues, and setbacks despite the intention to push forward.

Challenge #4: No Working Operating System 

There's no cohesive structure/process to align the company around where it's headed.

Strategy: Implement tools like EOS Traction to provide that critical system. Data is crucial as companies grow - you need a CRM, plans, and ways to track if you're moving in the right direction. Clear systems provide clarity that people and teams appreciate.

Challenge #5: Blurred Roles and Responsibilities

Individual accountability gets muddled as responsibilities scale.

Strategy: Codify roles/goals into the wider strategy averts this misalignment. Having basics like an organizational chart, job descriptions, and regular 1-on-1s to discuss expectations is critical.

Challenge #6: Ineffective Meetings

Meetings lack clear agendas, action items, and purpose.

Strategy: Establish an embedded meeting cadence with specific strategy discussions to create focus. Clear agendas, facilitation, note-taking, and meeting summaries with action items are necessities considering the cost of executive time wasted in unproductive meetings.

Overcoming typical landmines 

At the core, most of these issues stem from a lack of forward-looking strategic guidance that the entire company is proactively operating within. And each strategy revolves around:

1. Getting the leadership team 100% aligned around where the business is headed and how it will get there
2. Mapping out measurable goals, processes, and accountability to turn that strategic vision into reality
3. Institutionalizing communication, meeting, and operating rhythms to keep everyone rowing in the right direction

Of course, developing and implementing that kind of comprehensive, company-wide strategy is easier said than done. It takes real work and discipline. But I've seen the payoff firsthand - organizations equip themselves to scale rapidly yet stay centered on their defined path.

With a robust strategy, challenges around losing focus, losing momentum, or organizational misalignment are readily apparent and can be proactively course-corrected. That strategic foundation becomes your guiding light.

On the flip side, businesses that don't invest in buttoning up their overall strategy inevitably succumb to these growth roadblocks. Misalignment, confusion, and inadequate execution ultimately become their downfall.

Worried about where you're headed?

While having a brilliant idea or leading initial success is critical, clearing the growth hurdles to achieve long-term, sustainable scale requires pragmatic, meticulous strategic planning and deployment.

Don't let the same growing pains that plague so many companies derail your progress. If you're worried about where you're headed, just know that I've been in your shoes and am happy to talk through how our company came out stronger on the other side.