Why your team isn’t working as well as it should - and what to do about it
As your small business grows, the challenges shift. It's no longer just about delivery or sales. It's about how the team works together behind the scenes.
You’ve built a team because you needed the support. But now, you're spending too much time chasing, checking, or stepping in. Things are getting done, but not always in the way you want. Expectations are unclear. Accountability is patchy. And despite having capable people, progress still depends on you.
This is one of the most common signs that your team structure hasn’t kept up with business growth, especially in founder-led businesses.
What’s really going on
When team performance isn’t where it should be, it’s rarely about effort or intent. It’s usually a sign that your small business needs:
Clearer roles and responsibilities
Alignment on what good looks like
Stronger handovers and decision-making
A consistent rhythm to review and plan work
Less reliance on the founder to hold it all together
You don’t need more meetings. But you do need structure and habits that support people to do their best work without chasing or second-guessing.
What helps
In our work with SMEs, we’ve found that the biggest shifts in team development usually come from small, practical changes like:
Making expectations visible and shared
Creating a rhythm for check-ins, planning and feedback
Helping the team take more ownership of delivery
Building trust and clarity in how the team works day to day
When the team gets clearer, performance improves. And the founder gets their headspace back.
Final word
If you're still the glue holding everything together, it’s not just exhausting. It’s unsustainable. The good news is it’s usually fixable, and it doesn’t require a complete overhaul.
You just need the right support to make it work.
Explore our team and leadership support for small businesses