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

Learn strategies for sustainable scaling through smarter processes, team wellbeing & technical improvements. Avoid burnout while growing your product & organization.

Key takeaways
  • 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