People Managing People How to Successfully Scale Your Organization with Little Friction
Jul 24, 2024
Rob Bier, Managing Partner at Trellis Partners and author of the best-selling book 'Smooth Scaling,' shares his expertise on scaling organizations. He discusses the critical balance between workplace culture and productivity, especially around the pivotal 150-employee mark. Bier emphasizes the importance of rituals in enhancing team cohesion and managing stress. He also explores the evolving role of CEOs as strategic leaders and delves into innovative workplace benefits, including the intriguing potential of psychedelic therapy in mental health support.
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Unified Culture Resolves Tension
- Most CEOs experience tension between driving productivity and fostering employee happiness.
- Aligning good communication and team processes resolves this tension for a unified culture.
Dunbar's Number Limits Scaling
- Around 150 employees, personal relationships break down, causing silos and tribalism.
- This "early onset arthritis" affects companies between 100 and 200 people, making scaling challenging.
Use Rituals to Maintain Behavior
- Ritualize helpful behaviors regularly to make them automatic in tough times.
- This ensures constructive interactions persist even during stress or high stakes.