The flywheel effect: creating an environment for sustainable momentum
I've been thinking a lot about sustainable momentum in business lately, especially when it comes to aligning and engaging teams as companies adapt due to external influences. It’s a competitive time in the technology and SaaS world. VCs aren’t quite VC’ing as they did before, leaving CEOs and Founders redefining how they approach their businesses with a focus on "sustainable growth" rather than "grow at all costs”.
A recent post by SaaStr pointed out that VCs seem to be checking out on their engagement lately. And maybe that’s okay, but the moral of this story is; “What they want to know is if you have what it takes to pull through the tougher times, for real.”
This type of growth and resilience takes clear goals, but it's more than just setting objectives. It’s about designing a human experience that creates a flywheel for sustainable momentum and growth through (you guessed it) people.
Per Atlassian, “the flywheel effect happens when small wins for your business build on each other over time and eventually gain so much momentum that growth almost seems to happen by itself – similar to the momentum created by a flywheel on a rowing machine.”
But I don’t row, I prefer running. 🏃♀️And that got me thinking (more)...
I don’t run far, typically. My goals for running are to keep me active and healthy. That’s it.
I've never been a competitive person. Back in high school, when I played basketball, I was the one who helped the opposing team player up when they fell down (and lost sight of the fact that the other team was scoring at the other end of the court).
So as you can imagine, when I’m on a run I’m typically admiring trees, saying hello to squirrels, and maybe even doing a little jig when I think no one’s looking.
My typical run is 3.1 miles (5K for all you metric subscribers out there). I don’t stop at the American 3-mile marker. Why? Because my Apple Watch gives me a medal every time I hit 5K.
And it feels good.
While I’m not a natural competitor, I find motivation in celebrating small wins. In this case, I find massive satisfaction from my watch telling me “Good job, tiger, you did well today.” 🐅🏆
And you know what? That extra .10 of a mile has added 18 miles of running to my tally this past year. 18 miles! According to Reddit, “the typical American lives only 18 miles from mom.” So, think of your mom (or Reddit’s average American mom if you’re like me)… then run to her house. That’s the extra distance I covered this year. Just by running that additional tenth of a mile to earn the little gold star once again.
My point is, it’s the overarching goals and clarity that inspire people to action, but it’s the small wins that create momentum. And with momentum, comes growth.
It’s easy for me to run a 5K now. Sometimes I make it to 10K. I’ve activated that momentum in my life so it’s not hard to start on any given day. The result is I’m healthier than I’ve ever been. I bike now, too, which is new and has added other health benefits (both physical and mental). The results from small advancements have been exponential over time.
So how do we create a flywheel of sustainable momentum and growth for our teams?
It's simple, really.
Set clear goals
Setting simple, clear, overarching goals is a great first step in bringing everyone into the mix and empowering them to make informed decisions in their day-to-day. Ask yourselves; “What are the 2-3 things we need to accomplish to move the needle for our business at this time?” If these goals are crisp, unambiguous, and well-articulated (everyone gets the “why” behind them), your team will take care of the rest.
Win, together
Acknowledge the small wins along the way. Recognition can be as simple as a shout-out in a meeting, a thank-you note, or a small reward. Celebrating these victories boosts morale and reinforces the behaviors you’re looking for, encouraging more of it.
Psst...need an easy way to recognize your team in a format they appreciate and in real-time? Give me a holler, there are tools for that.
Keep that growth mindset going
Encourage a culture where continuous learning and growth are valued. Provide opportunities for professional development and create an environment where team members feel supported in taking on new challenges (psychological safety FTW).
A growth mindset helps sustain the flywheel of momentum, as team members are always looking for ways to improve and grow. 🌱
Perpetual Motion Squad
It’s also important to recognize when a particular flywheel has served its purpose and it’s time to start a new one. Continuous evaluation of goals, processes, and the competitive landscape means that teams remain agile and adaptive, ready to take on the next challenge.
So there you have it. Whether you’re running a 5K or running a company in this crazy environment, it’s all about finding your rhythm and keeping that momentum going. Set clear “go-gets”, do a little jig for the small wins, and keep adding those extra miles.
And here's to your small-wins-big-growth vibes!
Marnie
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💖🎧🎵 I help SaaS companies and scaleups design their people operations and culture without stepping on their vibe.
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