Mid-level or even top executives who “grew up” in large companies often look with envy at startups, and dream of how easy it must be running a small organization, where you can see the whole picture and it appears you have total control. In reality, very few executives or professional stars from large corporations thrive in the early-stage startup environment.
The job of a big-company executive is very different from the job of a small-company executive. The culture is different, the skills required are different, and the experience from one may be the exact opposite of what you need for the other. Michael Fertik, in a recent Harvard Business Review article, summarized the key differences for people trying to survive the transition:
- Forget influence- and empire-building. Establishing and wielding influence may help you move resources in your direction in a large business. Similarly, acquiring a larger footprint of direct reports is often a sign of success at large businesses. These instincts kill you in a small company, where requiring more resources is a negative.
To read the full, original article click on this link: Startup Professionals Musings: Big-Company Executives Rarely Survive in a Startup
Author: Martin Zwilling
