Essays/linkedin/26-02-28 premature scaling

<p>"Premature scaling can stunt system iteration". It's easy to relate when working with products, but teams and companies are systems which deserve equal amount of attention. </p> <p>For products, it's tempting to seek new use cases to get more and more customers on board. But contradictory requirements will invariably lead to a deadlock when it comes to iteration. Niche down and grow outwards is the (painful but) normally more efficient way of moving forward. </p> <p>And the same train of thought works for other types of systems: those fundamentally made out of people and their relationships. </p> <p>A team can scale rapidly based on an opportunity. There's new funding available, a grant, or traction from the market. But teams come with culture, skillsets, processes, idiosyncrasies. </p> <p>And teams are part of larger organizations. More people requires more office space or different infrastructure, better support systems, etc. </p> <p>If teams scale prematurely, it's going to be hard to iterate the composition based on quickly changing needs. For example, a deeply technical team can build a product but will have very little to do once it's ready and enters into the phase of maintenance, support, and iterative upgrades. </p> <p>A sales team built around early traction from a specific market may have skills around the wrong indicators. It's not the same targeting academics than governmental organizations, or industrial enterprises. Even geographies are relevant when determining where to grow. </p> <p>On the other hand, what I never discussed is the meaning of "premature". I don't believe there are indicators that unequivocally trigger the moment of scaling. </p> <p>That's what experience, gut feeling, some luck, and restraint can achieve. But FOMO should not drive decisions like these. </p> <p>Without the power of hindsight, what signs do you seek to decide it's time to scale? </p> <p><img alt="Pasted image 20260228094827.png" class="wikiimage" src="/pasted image 20260228094827.png" /></p>