Balancing Focus & Flexibility As You Grow

Balancing focus & flexibility

Kate Carruthers

Growthtown Sydney

March 2009

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2009 © Kate Carruthers 2009 2

Startups need balance …

But it is hard to balance focus on:Competing needs Lack of resourcesMaintaining cashflow momentumWhile staying flexible to respond to

opportunities

2009 © Kate Carruthers 2009 3Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/94403687@N00/185023874

Focus requires discipline


Focus needs …

• Goals• Plans• Strategy & tactics• Metrics• Key performance indicators• Decision making process• Defined roles & responsibilities

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Early growth requires focus


ProductAdmin/Finance

SalesSalesPR

Focus Flexibility

GoalsPlansStrategyTacticsMetricsKPIs

Rules What opportunities are you NOT interested in?

When do you say no to an opportunity?

Who says no?

People stuffValues

Beliefs

Attitudes

Habits

Flowv

Switching cost

Business Core

Actions

History


But you still need to chase rabbits


Rabbits are…

Unplanned business opportunities that you chase as & when they arise to maintain cash flow momentum


The problem with rabbits…

Unplanned business opportunities can distract you from focusing on your defined business goals & strategy


The challenge…

How to balance pursuit of opportunistic business without losing focus on your business goals?


You need a plan …

If you don’t have a plan then you can’t assess when to chase rabbits

You also don’t know which rabbits are not worth chasing


Some basics …

Predetermine rules for decision making:- input rights v. decision making rights

Understand key metrics driving the business

Track progress against goalsRefocus based on results


Some basics …

Role clarity is key!- Who does what & when

Values etc must align with the set goals

Communication is important- What information must be shared- What information is private

2009 © Kate Carruthers 2009 14Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/28481088@N00/535725576/

Flexibility is based on discipline


Thank-you

www.katecarruthers.com

www.slideshare.net/carruthk

Balancing Focus & Flexibility As You Grow

Business

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