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Team’s / Organization’s Life Cycle Page

Different questions concern leadership teams/companies depending on which phase of
their life cycle they are at. Take a look at the life cycle chart outlined below, where do
you fit in? Do the questions ring a bell?

Two Women with Baby
Yoga Session
Image by Clark Tibbs

1 

Inception/Birth – A founder/founders have an idea. The formal structure is just being developed.

If you are a start-up or a new team, ask yourself…

  • Do you have a clear set of values/management philosophy that you would like to adapt?

  • Do you need help translating those ideas into practice?

  • What is your strategy?

  • In the case of multiple operating partners…Does your structure fit your strategy?

  • Do you have a shared philosophy that you are in agreement about? If not, do you need help aligning your goals so as to minimize conflicting messages to staff and to clients?

2

Youth/Growth – The team/company now has an established culture. The
emphasis is on growth and potential expansion.

If implemented correctly, the values of the leaders have been translated into the values of the staff. You are now dealing with more complex management issues and want to ensure that your human resource practices are effective and are properly executed.
As a newly formed team/company during the early stages of growth are you
struggling with issues of…

  • Inconsistent or unclear management?

  • Employee turnover and/or low employee morale?

  • Lack of consistency in quality of service and employee productivity?

  • Lack of consistency in the quality of the product that is delivered?

  • Low or even declining profitability?

3

Midlife – Congratulations! Your business has reached a high level of success. It
is larger and more complex with an increasingly formal structure.

This is the time for you to enjoy the fact that you have established a successful system and to relinquish a bit of control. We can help you maintain your competitive edge by analyzing your vision and its adaptability.
Questions pertinent to this phase:

  • Are you having a difficult time letting go and delegating responsibilities?

  • Do you want to continue to expand but are not sure how to on your own?

  • Do you feel that if you walk away or take a vacation, your team/business will fall apart?

  • Is your vision still adaptable?

4

Maturity – If you find yourself at this phase, you are facing decline and are
dealing with issues of innovativeness.

Maturity is not an inevitable stage for teams/businesses. You may be less
interested in expansion and/or re-invention, and more interested in stability, however for companies in many industries this can be fatal since it has been linked to decreased profitability and staleness.
You may be asking yourself questions such as…

  • Things have been working well for so long, why do I have to change now?

  • Do I want to continue doing this, or do I want to do something else with my life?

  • How do I handle increased competition and/or the changing demands of my target market?

We provide customized coaching, consulting, and workshops for each stage of your team’s/company’s life cycle, and partner with you to help you gain the competitive edge you need to ensure your success!

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