Perspectives

What has stuck with me over the years is the sheer breadth of difference in how people operate - and how valuable taking the time to understand ourselves (and each other) really is.

What seems blatantly obvious to one person simply isn’t to another. And no matter how staunchly you think someone should just "get it" the way you do, it just doesn't work that way. So, you have a choice:

• Option A: Continue reliving the same frustrations.

• Option B: Invest in exploring what the barriers to clarity actually are - and work from there.

When it comes to starting and scaling a business, understanding yourself is a critical step that sets your entire course. I don’t mean your idealised picture of yourself. Or how you act on a good day with no stress. I mean the behavioral preferences that truly drive how you operate - the defaults you fall into when the pressure is on and the stakes are high.

Once you deeply understand your operating style, building the right teams and systems isn’t an exercise in trial-and-error. It becomes a strategic design challenge.

When you try to be everything to your business, you create friction. But when you know your natural tendencies, you can build the right supporting structures to scale effectively. So where do you start?

Here are a few simple ways you can start to observe what you actually do, not what you think you would do or wish you did:

1. Do an 'Energy Audit' - Take note of what tasks and activities you find draining, and what you find energising. Does a brainstorming session leave you exhausted or buzzing? Do you feel revamped after some quiet time alone, or fresher after being with others? We can't just stop doing things that drain us, but if there's an opportunity to schedule in energy 'top-up time / activities' around those tasks you'll feel better overall.

2. Check Your Stress Responses - Think about the last time an important plan failed. Did you take charge? Take a step to analyse data before deciding the next best move? Feel deflated? Feel up for a new challenge? Try to shake it off with humour? Knowing how you tend to respond to stress can help you prepare yourself (and others!) for what might be in store next time.

3. 2 Question Peer Check - Ask trusted friends or colleagues: "When am I most helpful in a room?" and "What's a habit of mine that can be frustrating?" Note what similar themes or patterns emerge. You'll start to unpack what positive impacts you tend to naturally bring to situations, as well as what behaviours may not be serving you well.

4. Decision Trail - Think about your last 3 major choices. Did you build a spreadsheet and compare options for days, or go with your gut in minutes? Were there any unintended consequences? What steps / information might have made the outcome even better.

In addition to these type of self-reflections, formal psychometric assessment tools can offer even deeper detail and structured insights.

As a founder, your personality is the core structure of the business. Don't try to change the steel beams - build the right scaffolding around them so the building can grow 10 stories high without collapsing.

Ready to unpack your own 'Founder's Edge'?

Brass View Advisory offers an initial no obligation free brief link-in where we'll look at how your behavioral style shapes your leadership, discuss your current growth priorities, and explore what supporting structures make sense for where you’re taking the business.

☕ In Adelaide? Let’s grab a coffee. 💻 Virtual work best? We can jump on a call

Product Gets You Out of Port, But The Crew Gets You Across the Ocean