Let’s talk business growth. Growing a business is a journey – one we went on for 17 years. We learned quickly that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It’s about crafting and committing to a growth strategy which you’ll adapt as you go.

If you’re looking at your strategy for business growth, here are 8 insights that we learned along the way.

[Our 8 insights]

1. Get the foundations right: Purpose, Vision, Strategy, Values

Growth starts with knowing your “why.” Why do you exist and what is your purpose? What is your vision and how will you operate (creating your values). These need to be real, active parts of how you and your team think and act. Work with your team to co-create your values. Your strategy defines how you’ll get there – where you’ll play and where you won’t.

2. Keep your strategy simple and memorable

Our growth strategy has always been simple by design. We wanted something everyone could remember, talk about, and check progress against. The clearer the strategy, the easier it is for everyone to align. For us, our strategy for business growth had 4 parts: Culture, Clients, Creativity and Growth.

3. Put culture first: It’s how you treat people

Building a great culture was a critical part of our growth strategy. Culture is how you run the business day-to-day, the way you make decisions and the ‘lived’ experience you create for your team. From the way you treat people, celebrate values, to fostering connection (virtual or face-to-face), to encouraging growth and recognising achievements – it’s about the way you do these things to help people to be and deliver their best and perform in the business. For us, collaboration was always important. Listen to their ideas and empower them to co-create the workplace they want to be a part of.

4. Clients: Nurture the right relationships

We spent time getting clear on what the right client looks like for the business. Then planning, mapping and improving the customer experience we want them to have. Creating strategies for onboarding, ongoing relationship management and client development to always add value. The aim? Clients who know and trust the full offer, can enjoy a brilliant customer experience and who can grow with you.

5. Creativity: Make it part of everything

Creativity isn’t just about what we did as a product; it was also how we wanted to think creatively in how we ran the business. For us, that meant challenging ourselves, trial and error in exploring and trying new ideas, keeping up to date with changing trends and asking ourselves - can we do this more creatively? Both internally and externally to keep things fresh.

6. Communication: Keep the conversation flowing

Good communication has been key to every stage of our growth strategy. Marketing, internal communications, client updates and client development – we never took our foot off the pedal. It was critical to our culture as well as creating campaigns or new products or services. We shared updates and progress with everyone – employees, stakeholders, clients and partners. It reminds people what your brand and employer brand stands for, your purpose, goals, values and proposition.

7. Be efficient

Make it easy for your people to do great work and be productive. Make it easy for your clients to do business with you. Remove any pain points and have your infrastructure in place, including supply, legal, and IT to provide support. Give your people the skills, training and equipment to boost productivity and keep asking how you can streamline processes so it doesn’t affect your customer experience.

8. Growth: Plan where it will come from

Our business plan and business development strategy was our map for growth. Listening to the market and clients, expanding existing clients as well as attracting new clients or entering new sectors. Growth happens with intention, so keep your eyes on the roadmap.

In the end, a strategy for business growth is as much about culture and mindset as it is about planning. With a clear vision, a great team, collaboration and a willingness to adapt, sustainable growth is there for the taking!

There’s a great interview between Jack Welch and Harvard Business review that sums it up nicely. “Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.” You can read that article in Harvard Business Review here.

https://hbr.org/1989/09/speed-simplicity-self-confidence-an-interview-with-jack-welch#:~:text=Jack%20Welch%3A%20I%20prefer%20the,their%20organization%20to%20reach%20people.