At some point, company growth becomes dangerous. Not because growth itself is bad – but because the systems don’t catch up.
The revenue is going up. The team is expanding. The product is gaining traction. From the outside, it looks like a company on the rise.
But inside it’s another story: founders are overwhelmed, the team is confused, new hires leave as fast as they arrive. Everyone is busy, but nobody is quite sure who owns what.
And decisions around pay, bonuses, and promotions?
Made on the fly, driven by instinct or pressure.
That’s when someone in leadership says: “I think we need an HR.”
HR is not an emergency exit
When a business hits this point, there’s often hope that HR will come in like a fixer –
someone who will clean things up, solve interpersonal issues, and “build culture”, finding new talents on the run.
But HR is not a bandaid. Not a personal assistant to the CEO. And definitely not a solo firefighter.
A strategic HR professional is not there to rescue the company from chaos – they’re there to prevent it from happening in the first place. And they can only do that if the company is actually ready to build systems, not just plug holes.
Is your business ready?
Before hiring HR, ask yourself:
- Are you willing to create real structure – even if it means slowing down for a moment?
- Are you ready to delegate – not just tasks, but real ownership?
- Are you open to transparency – in decision-making, information sharing, and roles?
- Do you have the capacity – even a small one – to prioritize people, not just product?
Because if not – HR won’t change much. They’ll either burn out or leave. And the chaos will continue.
Processes aren’t bureaucracy. They’re stability.
There’s a misconception that HR is about paperwork, rules, and compliance. But that’s only a fraction of what strategic HR does.
In reality, well-designed HR processes give people clarity. They allow teams to focus.
They reduce friction. They make onboarding smoother, feedback clearer, roles more defined and founders less overwhelmed.
Processes don’t slow down growth. They support it.
Want HR? Start with honesty.
If you’re saying: “We need HR” – pause.
Ask yourself:
- Do you really want change?
- Are you ready to face the mess and do something about it?
Or are you just hoping it will stop hurting?
Because HR can help build something solid. But only if you’re ready to stop building on chaos.