GROWTH from working with wood to working with people.

2015 Impact Hub Berlin scaled from 100sqm to 600sqm. Members increased from 40 to over 120. Team size doubled, and event space bookings hit the ceiling. Despite adrenalin and endorphins pumping our veins, growth is a delicate matter and doesn’t just happen by wanting more. Expanding our space meant managing wood. Managing wood was simple. All you needed was a “little” persistence to meet deadlines. But increasing a team suddenly required to lead AND create a vision beyond the next couple of months ahead. Bridging the gap between daily operations and creating a vision with a sound strategy is demanding. Despite the drive to grow and constantly innovate, you need to recognize when it’s time to stop starting and start strengthening. Growth was (and still is) an entirely new world.

Improve & adjust processes. Obviously adding space and new services requires new processes. You need a sharp mind to identify flaws to design an automated process that reliefs stakeholders and the administrative burden. Implementing new processes while running day-to-day business is exhausting... but it does pay off: our team operates at a higher level.

#Get_smart #Be_relentless

When you realize you’re accountable for someone. Spending enough time on the job descriptions and the interviews makes it easier to find the right person who compliments the team. But it’s not a happily-ever-after once the contract is signed. Your new employee won’t exactly know what to do. Finding time to invest in a person can be tricky, especially when you have heaps to get done. YET, it’s vital to invest time to align the vision, be clear on tasks and responsibilities, and schedule check-ins/out. It will pay off to co-create an environment and role in which the person can strive. It’s the foundation to start handing over power.

#Be_transparent #Hand_over_power

Stop being a bottleneck. Start leading. It’s insane how much work you get done in the mornings or after 6pm. Obviously the solution to get more work done is to come in earlier. FAIL. You just end up staying longer and getting sucked into administration – a killer for agile decision-making. It’s easy to get trapped into believing you have to do it all alone AND thinking a start-up doesn’t have the money to hire people – but that is WRONG. Hiring is an investment. Hiring the right people will give you more freedom to excel at finding business opportunities and (finally) start leading.

#Get_out_of_operations #Grow_skills_to_lead

When strategy suddenly became an “us” and “them” thing. We started with four people pulling it all off. With a growing team we allocated responsibilities – which is good and makes life easier. Yet it creates new hierarchies and levels of reporting. Without being aware we slipped into a decision-making that was not transparent. It created an environment of “us” and “them” which had a negative impact on team dynamics and spirit. It is important to sit down and redefine, design and create the organizational structure you want. Our team is at the core of what we do. Taking care of it pays off.

#Pass_on_tribal_knowledge #Teamwork_starts_with_team

Burn, but don’t burn out. There is a damn fine line between being passionate about something and getting mental about something. Being on adrenaline 24/7 can be dangerous, because one day you will crash. Even if you know you can make it happen (no matter what), it’s important to get more more realistic and grounded. You have to learn to pace yourself and don’t let work kill you. That would be super stupid – especially when you’re starting your own thing. You’re wellbeing is your biggest resource.

#Take_time_to_digest #Plan_for_the_unexpected

“If you had six hours to chop down a tree, you will spend 4 hours

sharpening the axe.” #Get smart

#Be relentless #Be transparent #Hand over power #Get out of operations #Grow skills to lead #Pass on tribal knowledge #Teamwork starts with a team #Take time to digest #Plan for the unexpected

GROWTH means