The uncomfortable side of scaling
But as I always say, the business can only scale if you do. So today, I'm sharing 5 ways to handle this resistance while you keep growing your business and yourself.
Read time: 5 minutes
Strategy 1: Let go of outdated expectations
You don't owe anyone the outdated version of yourself, especially when that version no longer serves your vision.
They want the CEO who never said no. The founder who answered every email within minutes. The leader who kept everyone happy at the expense of hard decisions. When you stop doing these things, they'll act like you've broken some unwritten contract.
You haven't. You're just running a business that's bigger than it was before, and that requires different choices.
Ask yourself each morning: What does my business need from me today?
Then do that, even if it disappoints people who prefer the old approach.
Strategy 2: Revisit and refine your core values regularly
Your core values stay the same, but how you apply them has to evolve with your company's size and complexity.
What worked at $100K doesn't work at $10M.
"Being accessible" might have meant answering every call when you had 5 employees. With 50 employees, it means something completely different.
"Customer first" might have meant personally handling every complaint. Now it means building systems that ensure great service at scale.
Every quarter, review your values:
- How do these apply at our current size?
- What behaviors need to change?
- What new priorities emerge from our growth?
Share these updates with your team so everyone understands why certain things are changing.
Strategy 3: Communicate the why behind every pivot
When you make changes without explanation, people create their own narrative, and often a negative one.
Your team and stakeholders need context for your decisions. When you restructure, change strategies, or shift priorities, take time to explain your reasoning. Share what data or insights led to this choice. Connect it to where the company is headed.
Keep it simple:
- Here's what we're changing.
- Here's why we need to change it now.
- Here's what we expect to achieve.
- Here's how we'll measure success.
This transparency helps people understand you're not changing randomly but adapting to new realities.
Strategy 4: Surround yourself with growth-minded people
Some people understand that growth requires change. Others will fight it every step of the way.
Look at who you spend most of your time with. Do they ask, "What are you learning?" or do they say, "Remember when things were simpler?" Do they share their own growth challenges, or do they constantly bring up the past?
Every quarter, assess your inner circle:
- Who supports your growth?
- Who subtly undermines it?
- Who challenges you in helpful ways?
Adjust your calendar accordingly. You need people around you who understand that standing still means falling behind.
Strategy 5: Trust the process, especially when it feels lonely
When you're ahead of the curve, you'll sometimes feel alone until others catch up.
This feeling is normal. It happens to every CEO who's pushing their company forward. The key is recognizing the difference between temporary isolation that comes with leadership and actual disconnection from your team.
Here's what helps:
- Join a CEO community where others face similar challenges
- Find a mentor who's been through this stage
- Schedule regular check-ins with peers at your level
- Read about other leaders who navigated similar transitions
The loneliness usually means you're doing something that matters.
Keep going. 
Not everyone will support your evolution as a leader. Some people benefited from your old patterns and will resist any change. Others simply can't see beyond who you used to be.
Here's what I've learned after coaching hundreds of CEOs through this exact transition:
The resistance is temporary. The growth is permanent.
In six months, the people questioning your changes today will either have adapted to the new reality or found somewhere else to direct their energy. Meanwhile, you'll be running a stronger company with better boundaries and a clearer focus.
Best regards,
Eric
P.S. I cover these topics in more depth during my free live masterclasses. You can see what's coming up and register here.
CEO of the Year - Business Excellence Forum 2019
Winner Global CEO Awards 2019 - Finance Monthly
Top 30 Entrepreneurs in the UK - Startups Magazine
Britain's Most Disruptive Entrepreneurs - Telegraph
Certified Peak Performance Coach
