Smarter, Not Harder: Scaling without burning out in an always more landscape - Marion Løken

Scaling requires building both value for customers and stress buffers for teams - don’t just push harder when more is needed

Building good processes and culture is foundational before scaling:

• Establish psychological safety and trust
• Create meaningful team connections
• Have clear expectations and feedback loops
• Celebrate small milestones along the journey

Three key areas to manage when scaling:

• Workload sustainability
• Autonomy/control over work
• Recognition and rewards

Practical approaches for smarter scaling:

• Reuse and adapt existing solutions rather than reinventing
• Build component libraries and reduce duplication
• Use APIs and modular architecture
• Implement automation and tooling strategically

Burnout prevention requires deliberate effort:

• Make stress management part of work culture
• Build in time for connection and feedback
• Create flexible plans with buffer
• Focus on sustainable practices vs working harder

Measure success holistically:

• Track both growth metrics and team wellbeing
• Monitor workload and stress levels
• Get regular user and team feedback
• Evaluate impact of processes

Technical improvements that reduce stress:

• Better documentation
• Automated testing
• Simplified architectures
• Reduced technical debt
• Modern development tools

Team practices that help scaling:

• Regular retrospectives
• Clear communication channels
• Defined processes for feedback
• Focus on knowledge sharing
• Cross-team collaboration