The Step-by-Step Guide to DIY HR for Solo Founders
As a solo founder launching a start-up, you have to be a jack of all trades in those early scrappy days. HR likely falls to the bottom of your priority list. But even basic HR practices will help you build a motivated, high-performing team. Here is a step-by-step guide to DIY startup HR until you […]
Should I Care About Managing Employee Mental Health? What UK Start-up Founders Need to Know
As an early-stage startup founder, you’re laser-focused on getting your business off the ground. Building your product, hiring a team, chasing revenue – it’s all-consuming. But there’s something equally crucial you need to care about in those chaotic early days: your employees’ mental health. The UK is facing a mental health crisis, and startup team […]
Managing Friendships at Work: When Employees are Also Your Confidantes
Early start-up hires often become more than just colleagues – they feel like trusted friends. While workplace friendships build culture, founders must walk a fine line to avoid conflicts of interest. Here’s how to balance camaraderie and professionalism. The Upside of Start-up Friendships Developing personal connections with early team members has advantages: Particularly in demanding […]
Launching a Startup Doesn’t Make You a Leader – Developing Management Muscle as a Novice Founder
When you start a company, it’s tempting to consider yourself an automatic expert leader. But management skills don’t come standard with the founder title. Leadership is developed through intentional practice over time. As a first-timer, acknowledging your gaps is the critical first step to level up. Most Founders are Untrained Managers Common deficiencies in novice […]
Preventing Burnout: How Startup Founders Can Build a Culture of Sustainability
Running a start-up can be an intense pressure cooker that pushes founders and employees to their breaking point if they aren’t careful. The always-on hustle mentality celebrated in start-up culture often glorifies overwork, sleep deprivation, and grinding yourself to the bone. But this romanticization of burnout is toxic and unsustainable. As a startup leader, it’s […]
Help, I’m Suddenly a People Manager! 5 Tips for First-Time Start-up Founder Managers
It’s a familiar story at start-ups – one day you’re an individual contributor focusing on your own projects and expertise. The next, you’re rapidly promoted to manage a team, department, or the whole company without any formal management education or experience. This trial-by-fire, learn-on-the-fly approach to rising up the startup ranks can leave many new […]
