I recently talked to The Daily Telegraph about how to sustain a business at its optimum size and how important motivation is to growing a business in the right way.
It’s a peculiar thing, many believe that in order for a business to be successful, it needs to be big – or at least, still growing. However, is that what is driving the people within that business? I believe it all comes down to motivation.
Let’s take the business owner specifically; what’s motivating them? Is it being in charge and having high influence over resources? If so, they may be suited to a larger venture. But what about entrepreneurs who are instead motivated by freedom, autonomy and independence? We all know the bigger the business, the longer the bureaucratic strings that entwine it. As such, it may be that a large business isn’t right for them. Ultimately the more closely connected the owner is with the business, the more their motivations are likely to impact the size and shape of the business – or at least influence the time at which they realise they need to exit and make way for others to take the business to the next level.
And we shouldn’t forget those who are employed by the organisation. What are their motivations, and can these continue to be met as the organisation grows? Perhaps they joined because they are motivated by newness and pace. Or perhaps they joined it because their own purpose aligned so well to the purpose of the organisation. When a business is small, it will always be much easier to keep this golden thread of connection between employees.
Certainly, if you are growing a business, know ‘why’ you are doing it and how this impacts on the messages you want to send to your employees. Aligning people behind the ‘why’ of the organisation builds engagement and commitment more solidly than any declaration about market size, profitability levels or growth levels.
Take a look at the Telegraph article here and tell us what you think? Is bigger always better?