Scaling Strategy
What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: 5 Growth-Stage Mistakes Founders Make
Startups don’t scale by doing more of what made them scrappy. Here’s how staying too hands-on, hiring reactively, and chasing growth can backfire—and what to do instead.
In the early days, a founder’s superpower is doing everything.
But as your company grows, that mindset can quietly start working against you.
If you want to scale beyond hustle—and build a company that thrives without burning out its team—you’ll need to upgrade how you lead.
Here are five of the most common mistakes I see founders and CEOs make during the growth phase:
1. Still Acting Like the Only Decision-Maker
You built the vision—but scaling requires delegation, not domination.
Letting go is a leadership skill. Trust is a growth strategy.
If you’re still in every decision, your team can’t own outcomes.
2. Hiring Too Late—or for the Wrong Roles
Many founders wait until they’re underwater before making key hires. Others hire based on chemistry, not critical capability gaps.
Growth-stage teams need strategic thinkers, not just more hands on deck.
3. Micromanaging Execution Instead of Driving Strategy
You can’t scale if you’re still the bottleneck.
Your job now: set the vision, secure the capital, shape the culture, and build systems that work without you in every detail.
Scaling companies need systems, not superheroes.
4. Neglecting Culture as Headcount Grows
Early teams run on trust and adrenaline. But once you cross 10, 20, 50 people—what used to feel fluid becomes friction.
If you don’t define your culture, it will define itself.
5. Chasing Growth Instead of Building for Scalability
It’s easy to get hooked on revenue growth—but top-line numbers without operational readiness create instability.
Growth is exciting. Scalability is sustainable.
Smart founders know that scaling isn’t just about doing more—it’s about doing less, better.
