5 Types of People You Need on Your Team to Successfully Scale Your Business

If I’m being honest, the idea of being labeled a “visionary” founder makes me uncomfortable. It’s not for lack of experience, focus, goal-setting, or drive to achieve Partake‘s mission. It’s more so about the idea that being a “visionary” implies that it’s the job of one person to look into the future. And the reality is, I don’t believe anyone can get to that place alone — or should have to, for that matter.

Growing up as an only child, I quickly got comfortable with the idea of being alone. It isn’t something that intimidates me, and I do believe that comfort with myself is a superpower. It was one reason starting Partake solo, with support from my husband and daughter, felt feasible. I was the only full-time employee until 2020, when I was bursting at the seams with growth and knew the only way to scale was by surrounding myself with passionate people who did well at learning while doing.

In the beginning, the scale came with many opinions and voices. Everyone had good intentions painted with the unique palette of their lived experiences. And, in the early days, it was hard not to want to give all of those thoughts and perspectives equal weight.

Now, with the wisdom that seven years of high-growth entrepreneurship provides, I’ve found that I lean toward five types of people as I shape my business. This doesn’t mean other ideas don’t come into my orbit or aren’t considered — far from it — but I often find, when the chips are down, these five perspectives are the ones that I turn to most intently.

1. The Colonel 

This person has clearly defined who they are, where they want to be, how they want to get there, and has everyone from employees to board members working toward the same goal. They see everyone’s value, are working toward optimization, and are strategic at every level of the business.

You can rely on their advice to: Cut through the clutter, model camaraderie and confidence, and remind you to “Do what you do best, and hire the rest.”

2. The Mirror

This person calls you back to your humanity. As a founder, especially with venture backing, it’s easy to reduce the present day to a spreadsheet. Though some moments call for that, the Mirror supports a return to yourself — and you provide that to them. This is the person who brings so many shared experiences, you feel a deep commonality and vulnerability. You can rely on each other to empathize with your struggles, whether that’s juggling parenthood and entrepreneurship or dealing with fundraising and operations, when others can only say, “Sorry to hear…”

You can rely on their advice to: Feel seen and understood, find balance, and remember you are not alone on this journey.

3. The OG

Perhaps the trickiest to identify, the OG is an accomplished “future you.” And there’s the challenge. Identifying an industry professional with years of experience isn’t enough. You have to understand “how” they got to where they are and ensure it’s aligned with your values, operations, ethics, and hopes. Because the OG is so knowledgeable that, if all pieces don’t fit exactly, their mentorship could send you down a path that diverts you, rather than supporting your focus. An aligned OG can see your business on paper and understand how that translates to life. They’ve “seen it all” and now want nothing more than to support others in learning from their successes (and, sometimes more importantly, their mistakes).

You can rely on their advice to: Build on your business strengths and strategies, guide operational challenges, and steward your growth as a leader.

4. The Advocate

Your advocate has likely been around a long time and is intimately familiar with you and your business. But they’re more than a record-keeper or mouthpiece: They’re able to serve as an advisor, knowing full-well your intentions, values, and vision. They’ll say “What I’m hearing you say is…” and, even if it’s not even close to what you said, it’s what you meant. Their support gives you the ability to get your ideas out of your head and in front of you so you can see them differently or more objectively.

You can rely on their advice to: Think holistically about a complex situation, brainstorm, and see the fullest potential in new opportunities.

5. The Cheerleader

Most days as an entrepreneur are not “rah, rah.” When you’re in the grind of it, the cheerleader brings you a glass half full and reminds you of all the things worth celebrating. The best cheerleaders have had their optimism weather-tested in life’s experiences. A cheerleader who is rooted in gratitude and wisdom provides a wonderful grounding that gives you a unique sense of confidence and resolve.

You can rely on their advice to: Add fuel to your tank, get perspective, and enjoy the journey.

I’m fortunate to have just such a wonderful group of friends, family, colleagues, investors, and advisors. But it really comes down to figuring out “who” is going to bring out the best in you, and then finding those people. And you don’t need a large group of people to make a sizable impact on your leadership. Even just a few people dedicated to seeing you succeed can make a huge difference for you and your business.

Source: Incafrica.com