Every business leader wants growth, that is, until growth starts to change the feel of the place.

Every company eventually hits a moment when the seams start to pull. The systems that once worked perfectly begin to buckle under new weight. What used to feel close and personal now feels complex and complicated. The same people who once felt seen start to wonder if leadership still knows their names.

Not long ago, I sat with a retiring leader who had helped build her company from scratch. She’d seen it all, cash flow scares, seasons of fast growth, the messy middle that separates the dreamers from the doers.

When I asked what she was proudest of, she didn’t mention revenue or awards. She said, “We built a culture where people cared.”

Then she paused. “But lately,” she said, “it feels like the company’s growing faster than its heart.”

That line stuck with me. Because, it’s what happens to most organizations that find success.

Growth doesn’t just stretch your systems; it tests your soul.

As companies scale, the center of gravity shifts from people to process. You add layers, create dashboards, and write policies to keep the wheels turning. But, somewhere along the way, those tools begin to manage the humans they were meant to serve. Communication gets replaced by reporting. Decisions move up the ladder instead of across the table. And, the culture that made the place special starts to thin out at the edges.

The truth is, people don’t lose trust because they disagree with leadership. They lose trust because they stop hearing from leadership.

Silence creates confusion. Confusion breeds stories. And, those stories, half true, half assumed, are what quietly erode culture from the inside out.

Growth without communication is chaos with better branding.

The fix isn’t another layer of management or a new piece of software. It’s presence. It’s showing up. It’s leaders who keep walking the floor, asking good questions, and reminding people why this work matters. When people see you, they believe you. When they don’t, they fill the gap with doubt.

Growth is not the enemy. But, speed without alignment will wear people out. Systems can scale. Humanity has to be protected. A company can run on data for a while, but it runs on trust forever.

That’s what this retiring leader was really saying. She wasn’t nostalgic for the past; she was hopeful for the future. She believed her company could keep growing without losing its heart, if it stayed anchored in clarity, communication, and care.

So if you’re leading something that’s getting bigger, take this to heart: don’t just grow your numbers, grow your connection.

Keep showing up. Keep telling the story of who you are and why it still matters.

Because, someday, someone will ask what you’re most proud of. And, if you’ve done it right, you’ll smile and say,“We built a place where people cared.”

Reflection Prompt:
When was the last time you slowed down long enough to really see your people? Not their output, not their role, but them? What might change if you did that this week?

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Steve Knox | Carmel, CA

Here’s to leading with soul. Until next time. Be honest. Be you. Much love.