Life at a startup is thrilling. 80-hour weeks. Running fast and loose. Taking risks. Doing whatever it takes to get to the launch date. It’s exciting – especially when it succeeds!
But… then what?
As the company grows, things need to slow down. You can’t take the same big risks anymore. Employees are depending on their paychecks. Customers are expecting meaningful and reliable updates.
If you do it wrong, you become… bland. Bogged down in process. The spark and creativity gradually fade. Developers start to leave.
You need structure – but don’t become boring! You still want that energy and excitement. How do you find the balance? Here are some suggestions:
Remember the Mission
As your company grows, so do your distractions. Accounting, HR, Compliance, and Marketing take up a lot more time. You outgrow your office and have to find a new home. If you go public and have a Board of Directors, you’ve got an entirely new set of responsibilities.
Always remember the mission. You should be able to clearly and confidently explain your vision to every new hire. And every change to your development process must support it. If you can’t tie something to your goals, it’s a sign that you’re starting to veer off course.
Change One Thing at a Time
As your software development teams grow, you need to add some stability. It can’t be the “wild west” of Mountain-Dew-fueled all-nighters and massive code changes on shipping day.
But don’t change everything all at once. Map out your “ideal” process, then identify the single biggest weakness in your current workflow. Fix that in an intentional way that moves you toward the end goal. Let that change settle in, then repeat.
Keep the Creative Spark Alive
You need to keep your products stable, but we all know how quickly things change in the software industry. Keeping up with the times is critical.
Look for creative opportunities for your development team. Make time in your schedule for experimentation and learning. Build prototypes and test them with small groups of customers. Not only is this good for your company – it’s good for your employees too!
I’ve never worked in a stereotypical Silicon Valley startup, but I’ve worked in many places that started with a single, exciting idea and grew into successful corporations. The best ones have all done these things – stayed true to their vision, kept their changes small, and offered creative challenges along the way.
What about you? Has your company done these things? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!
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Did you enjoy this article? You’ll find a lot more helpful entries in my blog. Be sure to download my free eBook, “Building a Career in Technology Leadership”, too!
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