Central casting concerns

Every month at this firm, each divisional head explained why he/she hadn’t reached the budget, and then went on ad nauseum about how it was going to be great next month. They all believed it, but the result was that the company was falling so short of its budget it became meaningless. A lot of investment decisions at the start of the year had been based on over-optimistic revenue and should have never been taken.

Ideally you need to spot early that you have a blend of spontaneous and systematic people. Spontaneous people tend to be more innovative, but the systematic ones will develop the processes that enable the company to run smoothly as it grows. It helps to have a blend of youthful high energy and experience. Too much experience can mean lower energy and an ‘I’ve seen it all before’ attitude which stifles initiative and innovation, whereas a very young team lacking experience is in danger of falling into every elephant trap and of constantly re-inventing the wheel.

The work-style of the team is also important. I know a small company where the partners like working from home whenever possible and it has made it hugely difficult to build a culture in the office because the leaders are never there. Similarly, modern ideas like work-sharing can work really well in large organisations, but put heavy pressure on others if there is a small team. One way or another you need leaders who are there, visibly leading.

Dealing with change
Finally, in any new business or fast-changing business, you need people who are comfortable with ambiguity. Most people are comfortable with a really detailed job spec – they want to know exactly what is expected of them – whereas some feel highly restricted by the notion. I see these as train drivers and stagecoach drivers.

The train driver knows he can only move up and down the track: he may have influence over the speed and over the stops, but it is all decided for him. When he goes to work he knows what he’s going to be doing all day. The stagecoach driver knows where he’s got to get to, but has to keep his eye out for Indians and sudden rock falls. It’s all very exciting but uncertain and he expects to improvise along the way.
The stagecoach driver is absolutely essential in a new business and in development roles in general. But if you are going to really scale a business you need train drivers – the train is safe and sure and shifts very large numbers of people. As the person in charge, getting this crew together is your job.