Practical steps to scale-up your business while keeping your team happy
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been working with the MD of a fast-growing MSP in Manchester who was at a bit of a crossroads. Business was thriving, new contracts were rolling in, and everything on the surface looked great. But behind the scenes his team was stretched to breaking point. He was working 60-hour weeks, and the thought of taking on even more work was giving him sleepless nights.
It’s a dilemma I hear all the time. Scaling a business is exciting, but it comes with a challenge: how do you grow without overloading your team—or yourself? If you push too hard, you risk burnout, high staff turnover, and dropping the ball on client service. But if you don’t scale, you risk missing opportunities and stagnating.
So, how do you scale-up your business and get it right? Here are the some of the key actions I discussed with him to break things down into manageable priorities. If you’re in the same situation – feeling overwhelmed but knowing more growth is on the horizon – you might find some quick wins to implement now that will get the ball rolling, help you work out what you need, and ensure you recognise the strengths already within your team.
1. Assess Capacity and Identify Bottlenecks
Before making any big decisions, step back and look at what’s actually happening inside your business. I often ask clients, “Where are you feeling the most pressure?” Nine times out of ten, they tell me it’s in the same areas—admin-heavy tasks, client servicing, and operations.
Take stock of your team’s workload. Who’s at capacity? Where are the bottlenecks? It might not be a case of simply hiring another pair of hands; sometimes, small tweaks to processes or delegation can free up a surprising amount of time.
💡 Practical step: Conduct a workload audit. Track where time is being spent across your team and identify areas that need more resource—whether that’s better systems, better delegation, or additional staff.
2. Prioritise Delegation
Many business owners struggle to delegate effectively. After all, they’ve built their company from the ground up and know it inside out. But trying to do everything yourself isn’t sustainable.
Instead of viewing delegation as a risk, think of it as an investment. Empowering key team members with greater decision-making authority, clarifying roles, and reducing bottlenecks can have a huge impact on productivity.
The client I mentioned was handling all client proposals himself. When we discussed the impact, it was clear this wasn’t the best use of his time. By transitioning this responsibility to a senior team member, he freed up 10 hours a week—time that could be spent focusing on the bigger picture.
💡 Practical step: Identify one task this week that you could delegate to someone else. Give clear instructions, step back, and trust your team to step up.
3. Build a Scalable Team Without Rushing into Full-Time Hires
If you’re looking to scale-up your business, it doesn’t always mean making a full-time hire straight away. Sometimes, alternative solutions can be more cost-effective and better suited to the business’s needs.
Consider:
- Part-time specialists – Ideal for finance, marketing, or HR support.
- Freelancers or contractors – Perfect for short-term projects or seasonal peaks.
- Virtual assistants – A great solution for admin-heavy tasks.
Another business I worked with recently needed a technical specialist but couldn’t justify a full-time salary. By bringing in a contractor on a project basis, we helped him get the expertise they needed without the long-term overheads.
💡 Practical step: Map out what skills your business is missing and explore whether a freelancer, part-timer, or outsourced support could fill the gap.
4. Streamline Processes and Automate Where Possible
A lot of business owners tell me they don’t have time to review their processes. But when they finally do, they almost always uncover inefficiencies that are costing them valuable hours every week.
Technology can play a huge role in freeing up time:
- Automate admin – Use tools like Xero for invoicing, Trello for project management, or a CRM for sales tracking.
- Standardise processes – If something is done regularly, document it and create a standard process.
- Reduce reliance on key people – Make sure essential knowledge isn’t locked inside one person’s head.
💡 Practical step: Identify one manual process in your business that could be automated or streamlined this month (or speak to me about the AI Programme I’ve been part of recently!)
5. Retain Your Best People by Creating a Strong Company Culture
Growth isn’t just about hiring—it’s about keeping the great people you already have. Overloaded, under-appreciated employees are the first to look elsewhere.
Small changes make a big difference:
- Listen to your team – Regular check-ins help you spot problems before they escalate.
- Recognise achievements – A simple “thank you” goes a long way.
- Provide development opportunities – Staff who see a future with you are more likely to stay.
💡 Practical step: Ask your team one question this week: “What would make your job easier?” Then act on their feedback.
6. Future-Proof Your Business with a Succession Plan
Over-reliance on key individuals is one of the biggest risks in a growing business. If a senior team member left tomorrow, would your business be able to function smoothly?
- Having a clear succession plan ensures business continuity and reduces risk. This might mean: Identifying and developing future leaders within your team.
- Documenting processes so knowledge isn’t lost if someone moves on.
- Ensuring the business can function without you personally overseeing everything.
A couple of years ago I worked with a founder who was the sole decision-maker in her business (having taken things over from her dad). By gradually shifting responsibilities to a senior leadership team, she created a structure that allowed the company to grow—and became more attractive to investors in the process.
💡 Practical step: Start documenting key processes and responsibilities so your business isn’t reliant on any one individual.
Scale-up Your Business Smartly, Not Stressfully
Scaling your business doesn’t have to mean running yourself (or your team) into the ground. By assessing capacity, delegating effectively, hiring strategically, and building a culture that retains great people, you can grow sustainably—without burnout.
And if recruitment is your biggest barrier to growth? That’s where having the right hiring strategy comes in. If you’re ready to build a strong team and scale-up your business, let’s have a chat—I’d love to help you find the right talent to take your business forward.
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