Why leaders need to focus on organisation fitness, not just health
Imagine two companies, both aiming to grow rapidly. One prioritises building a high-energy, innovative culture, while the other focuses on creating a stable, process-driven environment. Which one is "healthier"? The truth is, there is no “one-size-fits-all” standard. Organisational health need to be focused on “fit” for your strategic goals and growth stage.
Moving beyond generic “health”
The concept of organisational health is evolving. Rather than seeing it as a fixed ideal, successful leaders recognise the need to align health with strategy. This is about creating the right culture, capabilities, and resilience that will fuel your company’s unique journey at that moment in time. That means, for example, knowing not only that your teams are “objectively” engaged, but that they feel that the company is focusing on the “right” organisational levers for growth.
Fitness in practice
Linking organisational health to strategy is about choosing the right type of health for your company’s specific needs and goals. For a company in its early growth stage, health might mean fostering agility, innovation, and adaptability to stay competitive. On the other hand, for a company looking to scale, health might focus on structure, alignment, and operational excellence.
A mismatch between health and strategy can lead to inefficiencies and missed opportunities. Imagine a mature company that emphasises rapid experimentation without the necessary process controls; this can lead to confusion, burnout, and loss of focus. By contrast, a start-up that places excessive emphasis on rigid processes may stifle the very agility that fuels its growth.
Getting Fit with Scalewell
At Scalewell, we use our “Fitness to Scale” model to help companies assess their organisational health relative to their strategic priorities. This approach ensures that as your company grows, it’s building the right capabilities, culture, and leadership to sustain progress.
Growth isn’t just about being healthy; it’s about being healthy in the ways that support your strategy. Tailoring organisational health to your company’s unique needs and stage can drive a more sustainable, focused, and successful growth journey. And having the right data on the organisation means People experts are directly speaking to strategic goals - and can show that this delivers bottom line results.
Let’s discuss your fitness
Curious how well your organisation’s health aligns with your strategy? Explore Scalewell’s “Fitness to Scale” model to ensure you have the data and capabilities to ensure your company is building the right kind of health for your journey.
You can book a meeting for a first discussion about Fitness to Scale and performance with us here.
