“You can’t build a great building on a weak foundation.” – Gordon B. Hinckley

In order to scale an operation, it requires establishing a solid foundation. The larger the scale, the more solid the foundation needs to be.

Let’s consider a typical one-story home. The foundation that needs to be laid underneath to effectively support it is typically made of concrete, ranging from 6 to 18 inches thick.

On the other end of the spectrum, we have skyscrapers. Foundations for these immense buildings typically consist of concrete that goes over 150 feet deep to support the structure.

The quality and depth of the foundation dictate the scale of the structure that can be placed on top of it.

The same parallels observed in homes and commercial buildings can also be applied to businesses. When businesses aim to scale, they can only do so if they have a solid foundation to build upon.

So, what does a solid foundation for scaling businesses look like?

   1. Easily Repeatable

For certain aspects of your business to scale, they need to be repeatable.

Let’s take the sales process as an example. If there is no specific process in place for achieving sales, it becomes challenging to scale the organization’s sales efforts. To enable repeatability, a well-defined process is necessary.

Once the process is identified, it is time to optimize and then determine which parts can be automated and which are best performed by humans.

Adding automation to processes is an effective way to enhance scalability without requiring additional headcount. Automation becomes an additional lever that can be utilized when needed.

An easy way to determine if certain business activities are repeatable is to check if the processes have been documented and can be handed off to new hires. If they can, make sure they are up to date.

Inspect what you expect.

   2. Infrastructure

Having the appropriate infrastructure in place beforehand to support scaling is critical to avoid hiccups or stoppages when things take off.

Imagine trying to build your home without the necessary materials. It would severely hinder any progress. Similarly, not having the infrastructure needed to grow your business can impede its ability to scale successfully.

Ensure that the infrastructure required to handle rapid growth is in place before scaling begins. It should also be flexible enough to anticipate future growth or address any roadblocks along the way. This step is crucial to have a smooth runway during take-off of your business.

   3. A-Players

Even if you have every item checked off before expecting the growth associated with scaling, there will still be bumps along the way.

As businesses scale, they face the challenge of maintaining efficient operations as there is increased demand across all business units.

Having A-Players on your team will enable your business to manage and handle the increased demand effectively. Without staff ready for the challenge, tasks may fall through the cracks and get lost along the way.

Scaling a business can lead to incredible profits and awareness in a short period of time. However, it can also result in brand destruction, internal frustration, and an enduring poor reputation if not managed properly.

Having a solid foundation in place and ready to scale is essential for a successful endeavor.

Let’s get to work.