In the agile and uncertain world that we live in today, ventures often need a pivot be it in the smaller operational decisions or wider strategic decisions and business models, and the first step to have Everyone on page here is to first understand the exact push behind the pivot, the gap that justifies it, the clear path to achieve it and convey the same to the team such that they feel it’s a cohesive and structured decision rather than an abrupt choice, this helps reinstate the confidence in the company trajectory causing less clutter.

If the company is pivoting - make sure you do it with the 3C’s. Old but a tested saying! 1) Get the team together and talk of the CHANGE. The team has to embrace this change and should be ok to manoeuvre around quickly. 2) Embrace the change with CONFIDENCE. Confidence is the sum total of the practice that you put in as a team. Any pivot requires a lot of self development and self practice. Is the team willing to put those extra hours of practice to embrace the change that is imminent? 3) Build the pivot’s roadmap. The roadmap will bring focus and CLARITY. All the best for the pivot. If you’d like more help on how to build roadmaps, happy to discuss more over DMs

I see the “pivot” as similar to quality improvement for the early stage company. Yes, good business is checking the product and service constantly and applying new information to adjust the forward direction. But a Pivot is a bigger shift and you better realize this unsettles the foundation of your business. When I did my MBA, I valued W. Edwards Deming's 14 Points for Total Quality Management. These 14 points are a great framework for a founder to use as a check list when starting such a major change, like a Pivot. The first Point is: Create constancy of purpose for improving products and services. Here is your “Why”. Does the Pivot set the constancy of purpose to improve your product and service? Tough but invaluable.

To ignite your team's enthusiasm for your startup's pivot, start by clearly articulating how this change aligns with the overarching vision and mission of the company. Emphasize the critical role each team member plays in this transition, highlighting how their unique skills and contributions are essential for the pivot's success. Regularly communicate the value of the pivot, reinforcing how it not only advances the company's goals but also enhances their professional growth and impact. By making this connection clear, you transform the pivot from a mere strategy shift to a collective journey towards innovation and shared success.

One thing I have found helpful in getting your team excited about your startup's pivot is to clearly communicate the reasons behind the change and how it aligns with the team's strengths and the company's long-term vision. Involving the team in the process and seeking their input can also foster a sense of ownership and commitment to the new direction. For example, I've seen a startup CEO conduct a team meeting to discuss the pivot, explaining the market research and strategic thinking behind it. They also encouraged team members to share their ideas on how to implement the pivot successfully. This inclusive approach helped the team feel valued and more invested in the company's new path

Involúcralos dándoles toda la información de tus decisiones y enséñales el por qué de las cosas. Así sean decisiones poco sofisticadas, tener clara la secuencia de causa y efecto de las decisiones, hace que estén preparados para los distintos escenarios que resultarán de las acciones que tomes.

Skip the monologue; cue the collaboration. Invite the team center stage, not just as spectators but as vital contributors. Share the spotlight with their ideas, concerns, and creative sparks. This isn't just a pivot; it's a collective masterpiece. By involving every instrument in our orchestra, we'll craft a tune that resonates with success. Because in this startup score, everyone's notes matter, and together, we'll hit all the right chords

Engaging your team sparks enthusiasm and commitment. Communicate the reasons behind the pivot, outlining the benefits for the company while addressing potential challenges. Forster ownership through open dialogue by inviting your team to share opinions and suggestions. Celebrate incremental victories—eg when completing a prototype or securing a partnership—to maintain motivation. Recognizing these milestones amplifies a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, offer training for the new skills required, ensuring teammates feel equipped for the transition. Transparency - provide updates on progress and modifications. Inclusion instils a shared responsibility and cultivates a positive dynamic towards your new trajectory.

Ownership and transparency are key. A strong sense of ownership about the vision/mission combined with open, respectful communication makes it a collaborative effort where everyone wants the best outcome.

Ownership and transparency are key. A strong sense of ownership about the vision/mission combined with open, respectful communication makes it a collaborative effort where everyone wants the best outcome.

Create a startup treasure map with clear goals and milestones. Pivoting is like salsa dancing – without steps, it's just chaotic shuffling. Break our mission into bite-sized chunks. Define objectives, deliverables, and sneaky indicators of success. Turn our pivot into a quest with achievements – level up, team! Why is this essential? A roadmap isn't just for the driver; it's for everyone in the van. Clear goals keep us on track

Break down the pivot into achievable steps: Create a roadmap with realistic milestones and deadlines. Communicate progress and celebrate achievements along the way. Focus on tangible outcomes: Define key metrics to track the pivot's success, like user engagement, conversion rates, or revenue growth. This provides measurable evidence of progress.

Make sure your team is pumped about the pivot by setting clear goals and milestones. Break down what you want to achieve into doable tasks with deadlines. This keeps everyone focused, lets you track progress, and adjust as needed during the transition.

Make the team feel part of the mission. It’s not always easy b he communication is key. If you don’t communicate you won’t get the team excited, they have to feel their role in it and need appreciation to deliver

Establecer metas debería impactar en distintos frentes: cuantitativos, cualitativos y personales. Los cuantitativos son el resultado tangible de las acciones, los cualitativos es el impacto en el equipo a nivel de grupo y los personales reflejan el impacto en cada individuo, una vez alcanzado la meta. ¿Qué aprendió? o ¿Qué tan distinto soy ahora? son las preguntas que debería ser fácil de responder cuando las metas y los hitos son claros desde un inicio.

Training and development: Offer resources like online courses, mentorship programs, or workshops to equip your team with the skills needed for the pivot's execution. Flexible tools and technology: Invest in tools and platforms that support the new direction and make work easier, fostering a positive and efficient environment.

As Henry Ford said, "Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is a success." In supporting your team through a pivot, remember it's not just about resources; personalized support is crucial. Recognize individual needs—offer tailored coaching and targeted training. Understanding your team's unique challenges and preferences is key. Some thrive with more autonomy, while others benefit from regular feedback and recognition. Listening to your team ensures the right support, aligning individual styles with overall goals.

Check in in the interim and make sure tasks are clear and achievable. Don’t wait to deadline and then it gets stressful Be accessible as manager and helpful to the team

Foster a supportive environment during your startup's pivot by prioritizing your team's needs. Ensure they have the right tools and resources, offer training for skill enhancement, and provide consistent feedback and encouragement. This creates a positive atmosphere, empowering your team to navigate challenges with confidence and adapt effectively to the changes ahead.

Training and Development: Offer workshops, training sessions, or access to learning resources to equip the team with the necessary skills and knowledge for the new direction. Mentorship and Coaching: Provide individual or group coaching to address concerns and offer guidance during the transition. Invest in their growth and development. Tools and Technology: Ensure the team has access to the necessary tools, software, and resources to perform their tasks effectively.

Pivots are bumpy so two things help on the way: 1) set expectations - before the pivot starts, acknowledge in front of the team that there might be challenges and wrong moves, but it’s okay and it’s the learning that matters. 2) celebrate good behaviours - any insight and learning should be marked as an accomplishment, and good experiment or creative approach should be encouraged. The goal is to keep the team motivated to continue through the process.

As a SAAS startup Co-Founder myself who is also head of sales , I would galvanize excitement about our pivot by transparently communicating the strategic reasons behind it and how it aligns with market trends. I'd involve the sales team in decision-making, tapping into their valuable insights to refine our strategy. To inspire them, I'd highlight success stories of companies that prospered after pivots. For instance, when I led a sales team through a product shift in a previous startup, we collectively identified new market niches, leading to a significant revenue surge. This collaborative approach fostered a sense of ownership and enthusiasm among the team, setting the stage for a successful transition.

Keep morale high during your startup's pivot by celebrating victories, both big and small. Acknowledge milestones, learnings, and results with your team, customers, and stakeholders. Embrace failures as opportunities to learn and improve. Creating a positive and enjoyable culture around the pivot helps your team stay motivated, proud, and inspired throughout the challenging process.

Pivoting isn't just about the destination; it's about the journey. Celebrate the victories, both big and small—milestones, lessons learned, and every success in between. Share the joy with the team, customers, and stakeholders. Even our failures deserve a toast, turning them into stepping stones for improvement. This pivot isn't just hard work; it's a celebration of resilience, growth, and the exciting journey we're on together.

Recognize individual and team efforts: Publicly acknowledge achievements, big or small, to keep morale high and maintain momentum. Connect wins to the bigger picture: Regularly remind the team how their contributions drive the pivot's success and the company's long-term goals.

The only thing that does not change is that change itself. That’s a sentence which summarizes the pivoting. It’s continious. While giving feedback to the team (not only from top down feedback approach, make sure you adopt 360 feedback) you have to be brutally honest. Being brutally honest is really hard, trust me. Especially if you really like the people you are working with. Focus on reality and make sure you differentiate business and friendship. Measure the KPIs and outcomes, give feedback with data.

Create a culture of open communication: Encourage regular feedback, both positive and constructive, to adapt and improve the pivot's trajectory. Be open to pivoting the pivot: Show agility and willingness to adjust based on new data and insights, demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement.

Feedback is important. Compliments and positive remarks are helping motivation and when criticism has to be make it constructive.

The key is communication. We need to be able explain the why and why it is logical for us to pivot. Also explain that life in startup will always be revolving on testing and changing strategy until you find some fit.

I'd like to address potential anxieties: Acknowledge concerns about job security or workload changes, offering clear communication and support where needed. Building emotional connection: Foster a sense of community and shared purpose through team-building activities or social events, strengthening the team's bond during the change.

Pivoting needs clear diagnosis. Wrong product, timing, team, or market forces? Analyze before action. Blind pivots burn resources (money, passion, branding). Proactive team involvement is key, not forced marches. Assess team/market conditions/runway fit for new direction. Data, feedback, and external views strengthen analysis. Explore alternatives to pivoting. Diagnose first, then treat, for a sustainable startup future. Remember, understanding the "why" before pivoting is crucial. Analyze, involve, and choose wisely for a smooth course correction.