The Dark Side of Growth: When Success Becomes a Liability
When Success Becomes the Enemy
I turned down $100,000 on my first business to realize:
An unexpectedly high volume of sales can be more dangerous than missing your targets.
This idea resurfaced recently as I’m working on the growth strategy for a Tech Company with a niche market and a stellar reputation. We’re preparing to launch their flagship product, and while we’ve mapped out the advertising, publications, and marketing activities, one thing is clear - it’s crucial to scale up gradually instead of rushing headlong into growth. I recommend you to read our detailed article about Navigating Growth and aligning Hiring and Talent Acquisition
The Hidden Dangers of Uncontrolled Growth
Why? Because every business, no matter the industry, operates within a certain infrastructure that has limits. These constraints, whether they lie in production, logistics, or team capacity, inevitably create bottlenecks.
Now imagine this scenario: you publish a few expert articles about your business, they go viral, and suddenly, you’re flooded with requests. The sales, support, or logistics teams are overwhelmed because each customer needs attention, but there are still only 24 hours in a day. The result is predictable—a drop in quality, critical delays, and costly mistakes. Before long, the hard-earned reputation starts to crumble, and customers are left frustrated. Read our story about John - HR Services Company Helps Entrepreneur Overcome Overpromising and Underdelivering
How Overload Affects Employees and Operations
But it’s not just customer service that suffers; the impact on the team can be just as severe:
Existing employees find themselves overloaded, leading to burnout and mistakes. As exhaustion sets in, motivation drops, and the risk of turnover rises.
Hiring and training new staff takes time, money, and resources that may not be readily available, especially when customer demand is unpredictable. It’s tough to justify expanding the team when you’re not sure if the surge will last.
Eventually, the surge ends, the advertising budget runs out, and the flood of customers slows to a trickle. Managers then scramble to keep employees occupied, resulting in a rollercoaster that drains both the team and the owner.
Avoiding the Rollercoaster: Planning for Sustainable Growth
This is why I’m wary of uncontrolled, explosive growth—it can destabilize even the most solid business, exposing weak points and overwhelming the system. A sustainable approach, aware of its limits and potential challenges, is much more effective. Read our article related to lack of planning in modern organizations: The Thinking Crisis in Organizations: Why We Don’t Think as We Should
Leveraging HR for Strategic Hiring and Employee Engagement
However, with the right HR strategy, these challenges can be managed. A proactive HR approach that focuses on strategic hiring and employee engagement can prepare the team for rapid growth. By anticipating staffing needs and filling key roles before the surge hits, HR can ensure the team is equipped to handle increased workloads. Additionally, supporting employees through recognition programs, regular check-ins, and stress management resources keeps morale high and burnout at bay.
Moreover, having a flexible and scalable approach to training and development allows the team to quickly adapt to new challenges. When HR is actively shaping the growth journey, it’s not just about weathering the storm—it’s about thriving in it.
Building Ambitious Yet Grounded Growth
This is the kind of balanced growth I strive for—ambitious yet grounded, driven by the right people and supported by a solid foundation.
Have you ever faced a kind of success that felt more like a problem than a win? How did you navigate it?
UnitiQ specializes in providing fractional HR services on demand, helping companies navigate the complexities of talent acquisition, HR operations, and people strategy.
Their flexible approach offers immediate access to HR experts who can tackle specific tasks or manage comprehensive HR needs, making it easy for businesses to scale their teams without the commitment of full-time hires.
UnitiQ’s services go beyond just filling roles—they ensure that new hires align with the company’s culture and values, bringing fresh perspectives that enhance engagement and compliance.
Whether working directly with founders or complementing internal HR teams, UnitiQ’s pool of industry experts delivers tailored solutions to build resilient teams that can thrive in periods of rapid growth.
If you need help with HR, please contact me, Olga Fedoseeva, Fonder at UnitiQ, directly: My Telegram My LinkedIn