Most of my career has been spent working for or with startups that pride themselves on moving fast and breaking things. What troubles me about this mentality is that it is blindly applied to every facet of the business, with the expectation that everyone within an organization should behave accordingly. While the intention behind this characteristic is to achieve product market fit quickly and maintain that momentum through fast pivots and innovation that will deliver a product that captivates an audience and scales quickly, the statistics show that misapplying this mentality leads to failure. Two-thirds of startups fail, and while most fail due to not reaching product-market fit, mismanagement is undoubtedly next in line. This culture has taught us to prioritize speed, but sustainable success requires reflection, understanding what works, what’s broken, and what to build next.
Reflection is not a blocker but a multiplier
Growth comes from learning from mistakes. Taking the time to slow down allows for reflection and evaluation of past choices and the variables that contributed to failures. This analysis provides crucial information for more informed decisions and increases the probability of success. Often overlooked is another benefit, the creation of space and creativity, the lifeblood of multiplier effects. Being introspective enables you to approach problems with various ideas, weighing costs and benefits rather than jumping at the first idea that comes to mind.
Action without learning leads nowhere
Doing more does not guarantee greater impact. In a high-paced culture, there is a misconception that constant activity delivers effective results over time. However, if you start in the wrong direction and continue without recognizing the misdirection, will the effort ever deliver the desired outcome?
This underscores the importance of feedback loops that require dedicated time for analyzing situations and past decisions. Integrating these loops into a workflow ensures that each action produces more impactful results.
With each new lesson that an action brings, you organically build organizational intelligence that can be shared and captured. This is crucial for business longevity, ensuring that turnover or departures do not cripple growth and stability. It enables faster, more effective iteration over time.
Learning is not an option
…It is mandatory. Do not let the glorification of speed, so often preached in startup culture, persuade you against reflection. Slowing down to assess what is and is not working, and to course correct when needed, is a force multiplier.