Combating Bloat in Startups: Strategies for Growth and Efficiency

When it comes to startups, the term "lean" is often thrown around as a way to describe a company that is nimble and efficient. However, as a startup grows, it's easy for bloat to creep in. This can come in the form of unnecessary processes, programs, team members, or features that don't add value to the company. Unfortunately, this is an unavoidable consequence of growth. So, how can you combat bloat in your startup?

One solution is to have an ongoing, ever-present bloat elimination system in place. This starts at the top, with the CEO. As the leader of the company, it's important for the CEO to ask the question "How can we go faster?" This question is not meant to make people work harder, but rather to encourage them to look inward and examine their projects, processes, team members, etc. to find areas of bloat. This can lead to leaner project proposals and scenarios for cutting scope in order to get to the same end goal faster.

Another important aspect of combating bloat is to make data a core part of decision-making. Data is essential in streamlining decision making, as it allows you to see which features are being used and which aren't. This is a fact-based approach, as opposed to relying on opinions. Ideally, your data systems should be set up so that you can directly attribute a program or spend back to a result that grows the value of your business.

Another key area to focus on is your team. As your startup grows, it's important to regularly review and update your talent. This means identifying team members who are lagging behind and either getting them caught up or finding a new role that is a better fit for them. This will ensure that your team is able to keep up with the growth of your company.

In addition to these specific tactics, it's also important to be focused on a singular vision. This means being razor-focused on one ideal customer profile at a time, rather than trying to do everything for everyone. This focus will help you move faster and achieve your goals more quickly.

Overall, keeping your startup lean and efficient is an ongoing process that requires constant attention. By regularly asking "How can we go faster?", making data a core part of decision-making, regularly reviewing and updating your talent, and being focused on a singular vision, you can help keep your startup free from bloat.