How to survive startups: A quick guide for former corporates
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Congratulations...you’re part of a startup! (Obviously, some startup read our article about hiring experienced hires and took the advice!) And so here you are, in this cutting-edge startup, excited to bring all your lessons from corporate life. But wait a minute. Before you jump in, here are five tips to keep in mind when you are transitioning from corporate life to a startup.
Do: Adopt a learning mindset
Sure, you have been brought on board for your expertise and direct experience. But don’t assume you are ready to jump into startup life. Please prepare! Startups function on principles that are typically the opposite of how mature companies function. Familiarise yourself with the industry and your startup’s management thinking — you probably did so for the interview — but this is the time for a deep dive. Ask the founding team questions, attend events organized by accelerators or events aimed at startups, and read Medium and Reddit to educate yourself.
Tip: Completely lost? Start by reading the “Lean Startup” by Eric Ries and Zero to One by Peter Thiel. Most startups operate on a combination of those principles. Follow up by watching videos by Ycombinator and 500 startups to get a better idea of how other startups pitch and describe themselves. Read TechCrunch, Tech In Asia and e27 to keep up with regional news. Read Medium’s publication, The Startup. Look for events like Startup Grind near you. The more you know, the easier the cultural transition.
Do not: Boast or Lecture
”This is how we did it” is best left as a nineties song lyric. Your corporate background might have been one of the reasons for your hire. So sharing your experience is only natural right? But without the right context, what you think is “sharing” can actually be boasting or lecturing. Your corporate experience is handy if you can clearly explain the rationale and show how it can be actively applied to solving the startup’s pain points. If not, you are going to come across as an unhelpful know-it-all.
Tip: If there is a situation that you think could benefit from your corporate experience, don’t barge in. Instead, ask for permission from the stakeholders, such as, “This seems similar to something I faced at the Company and I think there are useful lessons for the Startup. Would you like to know how we tackled it and see how we can apply some of it?”
Do: Know the language
Yes, it is important to identify the necessary stakeholders in the relevant system so an applicable framework can be designed and the required policies can be drawn up. But that language is probably more at home in your boardroom (or frankly, never being used.) Every industry has its own specialized language (and jargon!) so know the words and lingo of a startup. This reduces miscommunication since everyone is operating on the same meaning. Making yourself understood becomes easier if you do not have to translate “corporate-speak”.
Tip: Every industry has its own buzzwords but if you are using them for the sake of fitting in, it will be forced and awkward. Consider using industry words like “agile”, “approach” or “playbook” when appropriate and only if you are sure of their meaning. If you are unsure, plain and simple English is always ideal and won’t confuse anyone. And please, leave the YOLOs at home.
Do: Be a team-player
This is one area where startups and corporations are not very different: getting together after work. Corporate after-work activities are usually an opportunity to network with the bigger team or across teams. They tend to be usually drinks or dinner, with a formal budget. As startups are small with (much) smaller budgets, fancy activities are not the norm. If you are older, you may feel self-conscious trying to fit in at Laser Tag...but remember, this is really an opportunity to know and understand the team better. In the daily grind of work, it is a lot harder to find the time to know the team so these moments are useful.
Tip: Don’t overthink about how you would fit in: make time for Mookata and Friyay nights with the younger team members. Also, don’t assume you won’t have anything to learn from them. Adopt the mindset of reverse mentoring and they will teach you more than you expect!
Do: Respect the founder(s)
This is a golden rule. The founder is still your boss, even if they are half (or a third!) your age. So treat them with respect at all times. By all means, set your boundaries but don’t talk down to them. Voice your objections privately and do not question their authority publicly. Find a way to gain their trust and influence them through teamwork and communication.
Tip: Think of yourself as a guide and a mentor for the founder. If you strongly feel they are wrong, seek to gently educate them privately instead of waging a power battle. By giving them “face” in front of the team, you are building trust and influence while empowering them to be better leaders.