Most Businesses Are Designed to Fail
Not because of bad leadership.
Not because of poor strategy.
Not even because of execution.
They fail because they’re structured to slow themselves down.
Here’s how it happens:
❌ Decision-making is too centralized, slowing execution.
❌ Teams are structured around functions, not outcomes.
❌ Bureaucracy kills innovation before it starts.
The result? A business that moves like a dinosaur in a world of speed.
👉 If your company structure doesn’t reinforce your strategy, you’re already losing.
Here’s how to fix it.
1. Structure Around Outcomes, Not Departments
🚨 Most companies organize themselves like this:
CEO → Department Heads → Teams
The problem? Departments focus on their own success, not the company’s.
✅ Marketing chases leads, even if sales can’t close them.
✅ Sales pushes deals, even if the customers churn.
✅ Product builds features, even if customers don’t need them.
Instead of organizing by function, organize by the outcomes you want.
🔥 Example: Instead of a “Marketing Team” and “Sales Team,” create a Revenue Team responsible for the entire customer journey.
If your structure encourages silos, you’re setting yourself up for failure.
2. Remove Bottlenecks in Decision-Making
If your team can’t make decisions without approval from five layers up, your business is moving too slowly to compete.
Ask yourself:
✅ Who actually needs to be involved in key decisions?
✅ Where are we slowing ourselves down unnecessarily?
✅ How can we push decision-making closer to the front lines?
Great companies empower teams to act fast—without waiting for permission.
3. Build for Adaptability, Not Control
🚀 The world moves too fast for rigid structures.
If your company can’t:
- Reallocate resources quickly
- Shift priorities without months of meetings
- Experiment without waiting for approval
…you’re too slow to win.
The best companies build flexibility into their structure.
Instead of long, rigid org charts, they use fluid teams that assemble around opportunities.
The Bottom Line: Build a Structure That Works FOR You, Not Against You
Your company structure should be:
✅ Designed for speed, not bureaucracy
✅ Built around outcomes, not functions
✅ Flexible enough to adapt when needed
If your structure is slowing you down, killing innovation, or making execution harder, it’s time for a redesign.
Inside The Business Strategy Lab, we help leaders build organizations that move fast, adapt easily, and scale without breaking.
[Join the Business Strategy Lab Today]
Dr. Marc Sniukas : Feb 1, 2023 12:00:00 AM
