More is more. . . but is it better?
Lately, I've been thinking about the title of Molly Baz's new cookbook, More is More.
Specifically, I've been pondering the question:
"More is more. . . but is it better?"
A number of organizations in my sphere (not my clients, because thoughtfulness related to growth is often one of the catalysts to our work together) have been navigating the following issues:
A small team that once provided personalized, responsive service where now, after the team doubled in size, client emails go weeks and sometimes even months without a response.
A health center that grew rapidly, requiring providers to double their patient load, which is now closing due to an unresolvable conflict between board-driven revenue goals and pervasive provider burnout.
A company that became so focused on selling work that they ran out of capacity to service the work that was sold, leading to a slew of unhappy customers.
This is not, of course, to say that growth is bad.
It is, however, to acknowledge that growth often introduces a whole new set of challenges, and to consider what Yvon Chouinard once said: The Elephant in the Room is Growth.
Whether we are looking to grow our personal income; our team; our areas of responsibility; the size of our home; or our company's top-line revenue, we might consider:
Why? What is important about this?
In a best case scenario, what will be different on the other side?
How does this move us toward our desired future state?
What new problems will we need to solve, and how can we get ahead of them now?
What are the potential trade-offs?
One of my clients thinks of this as “sustainable growth.” They are committed to growing —but in a slow, smart, and sustainable way. This has allowed them to build deep, lasting relationships with clients, while also building a company culture with a very special sauce.
What do you think?
Are you currently navigating any tension related to the idea of growth —whether personally or professionally?
Related Resources
Company of One: Why Staying Small Is the Next Big Thing for Business by Paul Jarvis (book) – If you are running a small business and grappling with the question of growth, you may enjoy Paul's perspective.
ADDITIONAL Questions to Consider
What is important about this goal or metric? Why are we pursuing it?
For whatever we are pursuing, in a best-case scenario, what will be different on the other side?
How does this decision or pursuit move us toward our desired future state?
What new problems will we need to solve as a result of this growth, success, or achievement— and how can we get ahead of them now?
What are the potential trade-offs of this decision? And, am I okay with these trade-offs?
