An aggressive growth plan will mandate changes to business processes, systems and structure.
For the small firm this can be as simple as office systems and the need to delegate. As a firm grows the need for integrated systems, more function-oriented teams and training middle management will be necessary. These barriers to growth are predictable and therefore can be addressed as part of your growth plan.
As part of the planning process the predictable barriers to growth must be addressed. These barriers generally fall into three categories: Leadership, Systems and Structures, and Market Dynamics.
By making process improvement part of your plan you will be able to address the system and structure changes necessary to grow. Being ready to be bigger is an integral part of your growth strategy. Managing the changes that allow you to avoid the barriers to growth will accelerate the execution of your plan.
28 million companies in the US file tax returns. (Mastering The Rockefeller Habits, Verne Harnish)
96% of tax reporting organizations never grow beyond 10 people. (U.S. Census Bureau - Statistics about Business Size)
Only 4 companies out of 1000 are able to grow beyond 75 people. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Relative to all of the organizations reporting, only a small group (17,000) are able to overcome these barriers and grow larger than the 200-400 staff size. (U.S. Census Bureau)
Fewer yet, only 2500, make it over the 1000 staff size barrier. (U.S. Census Bureau)
