Even an Established Company Can Embrace Startup Culture

Have you ever wished you could be young again?

As we get older, and realize that our bodies and minds are maybe a tad less resilient than they used to be, it can be tempting to pine for our youth. And that’s not only true of individuals. It’s true of businesses, too.

Think about it: There’s something exciting about working in a startup environment; something liberating about the nimbleness that a brand new business can offer. There are perks to working at an established entity, too, of course — yet it can still be tempting to wish for those youthful startup days again.

Alas: We can’t turn back the hands of time. With that said, there are some ways for even a well-established company to reclaim key aspects of startup culture — tempering them with the very real benefits of establishment and experience.

Here are just a few suggestions for bottling some of that startup magic:

Get rid of your org chart. Well, maybe you don’t have to throw it out completely — but do try to flatten the hierarchy some. Remove needless obstacles, barriers, or buffers. Create a business structure in which ideas flow freely, and in which even a lower-ranked employee can easily offer feedback to top leaders.