Business growth: Why slowing down is the key to speeding up
I was with a client last week who, despite the growth in revenue predicted in 2026, will not see proportionate increase in profits. The reason being that we have invested heavily in a team. A team that will free him from working so many hours and compromising family time, and a team that will set the business up for exponential revenue and profit growth in the future.
It’s tough sometimes if you are looking at the wrong metrics (profit in this case), or metrics in isolation.
I have helped this client scale from c£200k to c£500k turnover in the last year and from a team of one (just him working 24/ 7) to a team of six. Next year will push through £750k turnover and he’ll be working fewer hours and doing more of what he loves. Despite the lower profit, we will have a platform for scale, and much higher profits beyond this period.
Growth is often seen as a sign of success – more customers, more revenue, more staff. But what many business owners don’t expect is the discomfort that often comes with it. These growing pains can hit hard and fast, leaving you overwhelmed, your systems strained, and your teams stretched.
Growth isn’t always a straight line. When you zoom in it looks like stairs, or a climb up a rocky mountain.
Sometimes, the best thing a business can do is hit the brakes to reflect, repair and reset.
This isn’t a negative thing. Whether it’s building out the systems, developing the team or improving service levels, it’s often clever to pause long enough to reset some switches before going hard again.
What worked when you had 10 clients may not work when you have 50. The processes you built on the fly in year one and two, may now be slowing you down. Roles become blurry, communication starts to crack, and suddenly the agile little team that you built, can’t keep up.
A pause can feel like you’re stalling. Worrying that taking time out to restructure or rethink will lose you momentum, that competitors will pull ahead, that your business is in trouble. In reality, it’s often the opposite – trust the process.
Taking time to stabilise is what enables your next phase of growth to be sustainable. It’s in these quieter moments, the ones that feel like a lull, that the most important work is done. You tighten systems, clarify roles and responsibilities, upgrade your tech and re-align the team. You clear the weeds so future growth has room to take root.
It’s like pruning the roses right back before they bloom next season.
Think of it like climbing a Wainwright (I did eight more last weekend). You don’t (I can’t) just sprint upward without stopping. I will often rest to gather my breath but more importantly, take in the stunning view and see where I have come from. The pauses don’t slow your progress, they ensure you reach the summit having enjoyed every step of the journey.
So if you feel like you’ve hit a wall, don’t panic. Take a breath. You might just be in the rebuild phase before your next big leap.
Having a hand to hold on the business growth journey can be key. It stops the self-doubt, helps you reflect and can guide you in the right direction.
If you are looking for a sounding board to help you challenge the status quo, hold you to account, or need help developing a plan to navigate your next steps proactively, it’s time to chat.
