ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WITH GROWING TEAMS...
ATTENTION SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS
WITH GROWING TEAMS...
DONE-WITH-YOU TEAM GROWTH PLANNING:
Turn Growing Pains
into Growth Plans.
Pull out of the weeds and lead your team — and business —
into next-level growth.
DONE-WITH-YOU TEAM GROWTH PLANNING:
Turn Growing Pains
into Growth Plans.
Pull out of the weeds and lead your team
— and business —
into next-level growth.
The Team/Work Edit™️ is a 45-day intensive for business owners
who need team management time to shrink
— even as their business grows.
One new client away from overwhelm?
The temptation is to "work hard now and figure out it later."
But that's a recipe for burnout. If you don’t have the bandwidth to hire more team, you don’t have the bandwidth to muddle through.
But you've got questions:
- Is hiring really the right move?
- When everyone wears multiple hats, which 5 hats are you peeling off and making its own position?
- And...who is going to manage all these people?!
The Team/Work Edit was built to answer those questions, fix those problems, and end the overwhelm.
Together, we will craft a 12-month roadmap that transforms your team — and your business.
The Team/Work Edit™️ is a 45-day intensive for business owners who need team management time to shrink — even as their business grows.
One new client away from overwhelm?
The temptation is to "work hard now and figure out it later."
But that's a recipe for burnout. If you don’t have the bandwidth to hire more team, you don’t have the bandwidth to muddle through.
But you've got questions:
- Is hiring really the right move?
- When everyone wears multiple hats, which 5 hats are you peeling off and making its own position?
- And...who is going to manage all these people?!
The Team/Work Edit was built to answer those questions, fix those problems, and end the overwhelm.
Together, we will craft a 12-month roadmap that transforms your team — and your business.
Growing your team is more than just adding headcount to “business as usual”
If you're still doing business under "start-up phase" rules, you need to break up with the systems that are breaking your business.
Let me unpack that, because it's important: The habits that fueled your success as an early-stage business become the habits that bottleneck your business when you grow.
Habits like: having everyone report to you, your head in every project (or else it stalls), everyone wearing multiple hats, endless pivots, scotch-taped systems.
This is why adding team members doesn't solve the problem — it just amplifies it.
So if working harder 24/7 was why you went into business, you're all set.
If it's not, and you want relief and guidance, we can work together to assess what needs improvement, up-level your management practices and put a game-plan together for sensible, sustainable growth — that gets you out of the weeds and back in the CEO chair.
Leaders who scale don’t do more, they do better.
Growing your team is more than just adding headcount to “business as usual”
If you're still doing business under "start-up phase" rules, you need to break up with the systems that are breaking your business.
Let me unpack that, because it's important: The habits that fueled your success as an early-stage business become the habits that bottleneck your business when you grow.
Habits like: having everyone report to you, your head in every project (or else it stalls), everyone wearing multiple hats, endless pivots, scotch-taped systems.
This is why adding team members doesn't solve the problem — it just amplifies it.
So if working harder 24/7 was why you went into business, you're all set.
If it's not, and you want relief and guidance, we can work together to assess what needs improvement, up-level your management practices and put a game-plan together for sensible, sustainable growth — that gets you out of the weeds and back in the CEO chair.
Leaders who scale don’t do more, they do better.
In 6 weeks we will audit your business practices & your team
and build a roadmap to transform them.
In 6 weeks we will audit your business practices
& your team
and build a roadmap to transform them.
Is the Edit right for your business?
I am incredibly hands-on and I tailor each engagement to acknowledge and honor each client's individual business and challenges. Here's who I work best with, and how you can know if the Team/Work Edit is right for you:
It's right for you if:
- You have a team (even a small one) that needs to expand, where responsibilities need to shift, and/or team performance needs to improve.
- You have a proven product or service that is selling well — and you are planning to grow further.
- You have the self-discipline to focus and stay accountable when working through hard problems.
- You value your team and your relationship with your team, and value justice, equity and inclusion.
This is definitely for you if:
- You and your team are maxed out, wearing too many hats, or have unclear job descriptions (if you have them at all).
- You need your team-management time to shrink, so you can focus more on #AllTheOtherThings that need your attention.
- You need to get out of the weeds — because there's just too many things going on and others need to step up.
- You know you can't layer more work on top of the way things are now. Something definitely needs to change.
If you want to learn a proven process to get out of your own way so your business can evolve and flourish without you micromanaging every aspect, this is for you!
- Nancy Levin Master Coach, Bestselling Author
Results & Wins from Happy Clients
(this could be you!)
Hi, I'm Karen Sergeant.
I'm an advisory COO to small businesses with growing teams. I can help you turn growing pains into growth plans.
I created the Team/Work Edit™️ because I saw that most small businesses hit the same crunch period as they grew: Sales would (finally!) start to take off and — everything that was "good enough" in their back-office suddenly wasn't good enough to perform at the new volume.
The thing was, I had already guided several teams through this same crunch period as a fractional COO (7-figure businesses are not exempt from the same operational headaches) and I poured all my experience and expertise into creating the tools, assessments and fixes for this not-so-unique challenge.
The drum that I beat? Growing pains are part of the growth process — but you don't have to get stuck there.
You’re in the right place if you need your team & the operational side of your business to keep pace with growth — and you’re ready to change the narrative around team-building towards a culture of consent and accountability.
We Focus on 4 Key Areas
It may feel like "everything" needs a reset — but focusing on these 4 pillars will eliminate so many downstream problems, it'll feel like a miracle. These Four Foundations are the key to transforming your team (and your business).
1
Your Tech Stack
Software choices can make or break your growth plans. Choices need to fit your budget and expertise — and give enough headroom for growth. Tech can seem "tactical" and who-cares/just-choose...until it eats your daily lunch.
2
Your Team
Your business needs to match the right work with the right people. And you need the Goldilocks blend of oversight + white-space to get your own work done. It's not easy (or you would already have this in place) but it's critical to get right.
3
Your Delegation &
Decision-Making
Without effective delegation, your business will only run at the speed of...you. You need to enroll people into your vision — at a level they can sink their teeth into — and set them up to win. (Oh yeah, and maybe stop changing your mind every other day.)
4
Your Goal Setting &
Measuring What Matters
Setting goals — and following through — are how your business wins (and grows): they're where energy and ambition meet reality. You need a system to make good choices — and timely, relevant data to track progress and measure what matters.
Outcomes & Deliverables
Here's what we'll produce during our work together. This is everything you need to reassess your current business,
reshape your team structure, and reclaim your productivity and team management time:
👥 Org Chart Mapping & Optimization
We'll determine who does what, but also who has decision-making authority (and what kind), who supervises whom, etc. This helps us move away from a “flat” hierarchy into a system that can take on growth without burning any one person out.
👩🏻🤝👨🏿 Team Growth Strategy & Staffing Roadmap
We'll pinpoint the near-term hire(s) — and the future inflection points where more hiring might kick in. We'll dial-in duties, the decision-making latitude and required expertise for each, so you know exactly what you're looking for.
📋 Team Worketype Assessment™️
I'll assess each team member's ability to work independently when given a higher-order goal, their ability to anticipate problems, their ability to make good decisions for your business and where they best fit in your growing org chart.
🖥️ Tech Stack Recommendations
Smart automation can eliminate so much time and error — and human-fed spreadsheets just don't work at scale. I'll audit your tech make recommendations that align with your needs and budget — for now and for what's to come.
🎯 A Goal Setting Strategy & How to Track Progress
We'll put in place a flexible goal-setting and planning cadence — based on what Google and other big-players use, but adapted for your-sized business. Setting ambitious goals and nailing them? That's a great recipe for growth.
📊 KPI Recommendations
Not everything that can be counted counts. We’ll determine which KPIs you should be looking at for your business, how to collect them, display them — and make better decisions because of them.
Outcomes & Deliverables
This is everything you need to reassess your current business, reshape your team structure, and reclaim your productivity & team management time:
👥 Org Chart Mapping & Optimization
We'll determine who does what, but also who has decision-making authority (and what kind), who supervises whom, etc. This helps us move away from a “flat” hierarchy into a system that can take on growth without burning any one person out.
👩🏻🤝👨🏿 Team Growth Strategy & Staffing Roadmap
We'll pinpoint the near-term hire(s) — and the future inflection points where more hiring might kick in. We'll dial-in duties, the decision-making latitude and required expertise for each, so you know exactly what you're looking for.
📋 Team Worketype Assessment™️
I'll assess each team member's ability to work independently when given a higher-order goal, their ability to anticipate problems, their ability to make good decisions for your business and where they best fit in your growing org chart.
🖥️ Tech Stack Recommendations
Smart automation can eliminate so much time and error — and human-fed spreadsheets just don't work at scale. I'll audit your tech make recommendations that align with your needs and budget — for now and for what's to come.
🎯 A Goal Setting Strategy & How to Track Progress
We'll put in place a flexible goal-setting and planning cadence — based on what Google and other big-players use, but adapted for your-sized business. Setting ambitious goals and nailing them? That's a great recipe for growth.
📊 KPI Recommendations
Not everything that can be counted counts. We’ll determine which KPIs you should be looking at for your business, how to collect them, display them — and make better decisions because of them.
How We Work Together
- You'll receive your Pre-Work immediately upon payment of the invoice. I walk you through gathering everything we'll need. I'll need it back at least 2 business days prior to our first call, so I can get your client portal set and ready for us.
- The Kick-Off Call gets us acquainted, lets us sift through your pre-work to surface all the details, challenges and concerns. This sets me up to give you high-quality advice and recommendations.
- The Tech-Stack Call is my deep-dive into your systems. I come with full recommendations for what needs to change (based on your growth plans) and what's just fine. This isn't a fake-audit where I just come with my favorites, this is all about where you're headed and what systems (new & old) can take you there.
- The Team Organization Call always seems to be the favorite. I present the results of my Team/Work Edit, including the new org chart, team diagnostic results, the staffing roadmap and more. Together, we discuss, refine, and get you set up for moving forward with your growth plans!
- The Delegation Call, the runner-up favorite. (hmmm..I wonder why!) Now that we have the right people in the right seats, we make sure you are delegating everything you should be, and that you're using best-practices to do so.
- The Goal-Setting & Planning Call is where your vision goes from aspiration to concrete plans. Using the OKR method, we map up just how you're going to make it happen, and what to track to stay on-track.
- Not Pictured: Voxer access the whole way through and for 2 weeks after our last call (8 weeks total). Any questions that arise as you put what we created into practice, I'm only a Voxer away.
How We Work Together
- You'll receive your Pre-Work immediately upon payment of the invoice. I walk you through gathering everything we'll need. I'll need it back at least 2 business days prior to our first call, so I can get your client portal set and ready for us.
- The Kick-Off Call gets us acquainted, lets us sift through your pre-work to surface all the details, challenges and concerns. This sets me up to give you high-quality advice and recommendations.
- The Tech-Stack Call is my deep-dive into your systems. I come with full recommendations for what needs to change (based on your growth plans) and what's just fine. This isn't a fake-audit where I just come with my favorites, this is all about where you're headed and what systems (new & old) can take you there.
- The Team Organization Call always seems to be the favorite. I present the results of my Team/Work Edit, including the new org chart, team diagnostic results, the staffing roadmap and more. Together, we discuss, refine, and get you set up for moving forward with your growth plans!
- The Delegation Call, the runner-up favorite. (hmmm..I wonder why!) Now that we have the right people in the right seats, we make sure you are delegating everything you should be, and that you're using best-practices to do so.
- The Goal-Setting & Planning Call is where your vision goes from aspiration to concrete plans. Using the OKR method, we map up just how you're going to make it happen, and what to track to stay on-track.
- Not Pictured: Voxer access the whole way through and for 2 weeks after our last call (8 weeks total). Any questions that arise as you put what we created into practice, I'm only a Voxer away.
Working with Karen was eye-opening for me. I've gotten my only scarce asset — my time — back to use towards more useful things. Finally, we're starting to be able to focus on the things that matter again now that our bottlenecks are disappearing.
- Sri Mohan Managing Director, Mohan Management Consultants Pte Ltd
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Are You Wondering…
How quickly can I book with you?
I have several slots open each month. And as long as you're reading this sentence, I have availability. Book a Discovery Call and we will fine-tune the timing.
How is this different from other offers out there?
This is the only offer I know of that isn't either a VIP Day (fire-hose anyone?) or a group coaching offer. This is private, 1:1 consulting & coaching, focused solely on your business challenges.
I’m an operations expert, with 12 years as a COO/Integrator for digital businesses making 7 & multiple 7 figures, and 25+ years leading teams in corporate, government and online.
If you need operational support for your business, you are in the right place for the tools and tradecraft to find sustainable, lasting relief.
How much of my time does this require?
The Edit asks for about 7-8 hours of your time, over 6 weeks — and that includes me sandbagging a few extra hours "just in case." We hold 5 one-hour calls over 6 weeks, plus you need about an hour for the pre-work. I do all of the heavy-lifting with the diagnostics and recommendations. If you come to calls fully present, you will reap the full benefits of The Edit.
Can I adjust the timing?
Got travel? Need to skip a week? I can generally accommodate. Hop on a Discovery Call and we'll talk details.
Karen was a trusted advisor and A-level executor in my business. She created the operational infrastructure that allowed our company to scale to 7-figures — reducing team burnout and overwhelm in the process.
- Selena Soo CEO of SelenaSoo.com
From the beginning, I knew she was going to change the way Zenplicity operates – and we were able to transform my business into a well-oiled machine.
- Jamie DuBose CEO of ZenplicityNow.com
Pocket COO Services &
Business Operations Strategy
You’re in the right place if your growing business isn't quite ready to hire a full-time COO, but you want C-level ops advice to draw on through your next chapter.
On this Site, We Explore:
• Defeating Shiny Object Syndrome
• Equity-Centered Business Practices
• Goal-Setting, Delegation, Meeting Management & more
The Hidden Work of Leadership
If you don't have the bandwidth for another newsletter — this is the one that gives you back your time.
Start Here:
• How to Survive Your Business Growth Spurt (Without Losing Your Mind) (The Video)
• How to Integrate Your Values into Your Hiring Process (Read Here)
• #GrowthPlans - Articles for Building & Leading Growing Business & a Strong Team. (Library Dashboard)
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