Why Collaboration Feels Harder as You Grow
What Small Teams Do Naturally— and Larger Teams Have to Build on Purpose
In the early days, collaboration feels easy.
You’re small. You’re scrappy. Everyone’s in the loop, and you can usually solve problems with a quick chat or a Slack message.
But somewhere between 25 and 100 people, something shifts.
Projects start to drag. Handoffs get missed. Teams point fingers—not because they’re uncooperative, but because the way they used to collaborate doesn’t work anymore.
And suddenly, what used to feel like momentum starts to feel like… misalignment.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Growing companies often hit a moment when they realize:
Collaboration doesn’t just slow down—it starts to break down.
Why Growth Changes the Rules
When your team is small, you don't need a lot of structure.
You know who to ask. You know what each person is working on. And you often make decisions in real time—without layers of coordination.
But as the organization grows:
There’s more to communicate
More people to align
More dependencies to manage
And what used to be fast becomes foggy.
This is the moment when leaders start asking one of the most critical strategic questions:
Is this a problem we actually need to solve—or just a normal part of growing?
The answer? Yes, it’s a real problem—and a solvable one.
If you ignore it, trust erodes. Execution slows. And even your best people start to get frustrated or burned out—not because they don’t care, but because the system around them is no longer helping them succeed.
The Real Collaboration Breakdown Isn’t Personal—It’s Structural
People haven’t stopped collaborating. They’re still trying. But now they’re operating in a system that hasn’t grown with them.
Here’s how it often shows up:
Confusion over who owns what
Delays from misaligned timelines or unclear handoffs
Rework because the right people weren’t brought in early enough
Tension between teams that once worked effortlessly together
When companies scale but don’t pause to realign how collaboration happens, even high-trust teams can feel stuck.
What Small Teams Do Naturally, Bigger Teams Have to Build
Small teams have an advantage: proximity.
They share context, they move quickly, and they don’t need formal processes to stay connected.
But when proximity fades, you have to replace it with intention.
Growing teams need:
Clear collaboration norms (Who’s involved? When do we check in?)
Aligned decision-making (What gets escalated, and what doesn’t?)
Visible interdependencies (Who’s relying on whom to deliver?)
This isn’t about over-engineering.
It’s about designing the kind of coordination and communication that used to happen automatically—because now, it doesn’t.
3 Ways to Strengthen Collaboration as You Scale
If your team is feeling the growing pains, here are three ways to move from frustration to clarity:
1. Define What “Working Together” Actually Means
Don’t assume everyone shares the same definition of collaboration. Have teams co-create simple working agreements. Define expectations for updates, ownership, and decision-making.
2. Make Dependencies Visible
Most execution delays come from hidden dependencies. Set aside time during quarterly planning to map where teams intersect and build plans that reflect that reality.
3. Create Space for Strategic Check-Ins
Collaboration starts to erode when leaders only meet to solve problems. Protect time for forward-looking discussions—what’s changing, where are we aligned, and what needs to shift?
Collaboration Isn’t Broken. It’s Growing Up.
Your collaboration system wasn’t designed poorly—it just wasn’t designed at all. It evolved in a small, agile environment. Now, your growth demands something more intentional.
When leaders recognize the shift and respond with clarity, coordination, and structure that fits their stage of growth, collaboration doesn’t just improve—it accelerates.
If your team is in that “it used to be easier” phase, let’s talk.
A Strategic Clarity Check-In can help you identify what needs to shift to get your team moving forward—together.
