Startups and startup executives all over Silicon Valley intensely debate around how, when and how much governance startups should apply to their operations when considering the challenges facing them at the moment and the challenges that lie ahead.  These sometimes grueling discussions take place at executive meetings, board meetings and manager meetings when a startup moves form one phase of growth to another.

The inflection points between each phase of growth manifest challenges and hurdles that begin to frustrate managers as they operate.  It is important to note that these challenges and frustrations are supremely important and management’s actions around them are critical, as the decisions made will either suffocate or propel the business.  I refer to the proper management of these growing pains as progressive governance.

As with anything else, a company is a progressively evolving entity that passes through different phases in the course of its evolution.  However in a startup everything is and must be accelerated in order to gain the critical mass and stability necessary for sustained growth and development. 

Imagine the difference between the way a jet’s mechanics are situated during its take off and climb versus once its reaches cruising altitude.  You cannot govern the jet or the business with methods that belong to a different phase of its evolution, else neither the jet nor the business will take flight. 

Too often startups make the mistake of applying too much brakes and governance to alleviate the growing pains and challenges they face.  Managers instill too many protocols, policies, procedures that weigh down a business during a time where speed and agility are everything.  It is supremely important for managers to detect the problems and apply the exact amount of governance necessary without comprising the climb of the business. 

Managers with little experience with startups, and boards with traditional seat holders tend to want to drive a business to have the same governance they have experienced at companies at much further positions in the course of maturation.  Too often startups fail because they have busied themselves in making everything run smoothly during a phase where growth and product development are everything.  What is often overlooked is the fact that there is no point in having a smoothly operating operation that has no revenues or growth trajectory.

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