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Are You Scaling or Spinning Out?
Published about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Are You Scaling or Spinning Out?
Hey Spark Family,
Let’s talk about a leadership challenge I’m seeing everywhere right now.
You’re growing. Fast. New clients. New hires. Bigger goals. Everyone is doing more, but no one has time to think.
Sound familiar?
This is what I call growth guilt - the uneasy feeling that you’re falling behind even while everything is moving forward. It’s not just frustrating. It’s dangerous.
When growth becomes frantic, your people start to flail. And when your strategy becomes "keep up," you’re not leading. You’re reacting.
The Research Is Clear
• 71% of leaders in scaling organizations say they’re operating reactively instead of strategically (Deloitte, 2025)
• 62% report declining team alignment and clarity as pace increases (McKinsey, 2025) • High-growth teams are three times more likely to experience burnout if systems and communication rhythms aren’t in place (Gallup, 2025)
➡ These numbers tell a clear story. Growth is not the enemy, but unmanaged pace is. Without structure, even the most exciting progress can start to feel like chaos.
What I'm Seeing In The Field
The leaders I coach are not short on ambition. They are short on space. Calendars are jammed. Inbox overload is constant. Teams are sprinting with no time to step back and ask what really matters.
What’s missing is not effort. It's a strategic pause. Clear prioritization. And the safety to ask, "Is this still working?"
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What We Teach Leaders Inside Spark Brilliance
Here’s how I help leaders scale without spinning out:
Pause to prioritize Growth is not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things better.
Name the shift Tell your team you’re moving from hustle to intention. That honesty builds trust.
Build repeatable rhythms Reliable systems create clarity. Predictability beats urgency every time.
Stop confusing speed with success Fast growth is exciting. But if your team breaks along the way, it’s not sustainable.
🌟 Your Challenge This Week
Take a breath and ask yourself:
➡ Where am I reacting instead of leading? ➡ What areas are growing, but not aligned? ➡ What small rhythm could help stabilize my team this week?
You don’t need to slow down. You need to create the structure that supports your speed.
Let’s make scaling feel energizing, not exhausting.
With gratitude, Jackie
P.S. – Know someone whose team is growing quickly and struggling to keep up? Forward this to them. Growth is a gift - but only if we protect the people driving it. ✨
Your weekly boost of practical leadership wisdom - rooted in neuroscience, backed by data, and crafted for real-world results. Each memo offers a spark of insight to help you lead with clarity, empathy, and purpose - especially when things get messy.