Original Article from Dynamic Business: Comments by Ross Judd 16 October 2019
Startups and SMEs often begin with strong, vibrant cultures. But as your team grows and new faces fill the room, keeping that same spirit alive becomes a real leadership challenge. Culture isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s the foundation of how your business works.
Without a plan, your culture can quietly erode during expansion. But with the right approach, you can protect it—and even scale it.
Ross Judd on Maintaining Culture in Growth
Ross Judd, founder of Team Focus and author of Cultural Insanity, has worked with hundreds of businesses navigating scale. His advice?
“Culture doesn’t survive growth unless you talk about it—every day, in every room, with every team.”
Here are Ross’s 3 essential culture continuity tips for growing companies:
Step 1: Talk About Your Purpose
Why does your business exist? Make sure every new hire connects with your why. Alignment with purpose drives engagement and cohesion—even in times of rapid growth.
Step 2: Define the Culture You’re Building
Simplify it. Use just one or two words that define your target culture—and make them stick. Clear, consistent language helps you scale culture with intention.
Step 3: Keep Talking About Culture
Culture thrives in conversation. From interviews to onboarding to team meetings, make culture a recurring topic. The more you talk about culture, the more people will protect and shape it.
Hiring for Culture Fit: A Strategic Advantage
Hiring someone with slightly less technical skill—but who’s a great cultural fit—can significantly boost your team’s productivity. Why? Because misalignment creates tension and disengagement, while a strong culture fit drives support, coaching, and cohesion.
In short, culture in a growing business isn’t just an HR concern—it’s a performance strategy.
Australian Workplace Culture Matters
In the context of Australian workplace culture, values like inclusion, fairness, and collaboration are deeply embedded. Don’t let fast growth dilute these essentials. Use intentional culture expansion strategies to keep what works—and scale it with clarity and purpose.
Your Next Growth Phase Starts With Culture
If you’re planning to grow—or already scaling—now is the time to embed strategies that protect your culture. Don’t wait until it’s eroded.
Let’s talk about what’s working (and what’s not) in your business.
