Startups launch with idealistic cultures that act as conservators of businesses, giving them direction and purpose beyond the commercial sphere. But as a successful startup grows at a considerable pace, how can founders ensure their pervasive culture grows with it, in all the right ways?
We face new-ish challenges that’ll compromise culture given half a chance – yes, remote working – but there’s nothing like a bit of fast growth to eclipse it. As headcount rises quickly, culture can get lost. Scaling shifts focus from cultural aspects to operational and growth targets with pressure to deliver results.
This naturally diverts attention from nurturing and reinforcing the original culture so leaders need to broaden their strategies to preserve it.
An acceleration of growth like this for a small startup typically follows significant venture backing. It’s an exciting period of rapid growth but also a dangerous one for company culture....