6 Tips for Working at a Start-Up  

With the abundance of start-up companies emerging across a variety of industries, opportunities are flourishing for women who wish to embark on an entrepreneurial adventure. While start-up culture can seem flashy and exciting from the outside, there are many things to consider before taking on a role at a newly-established company. Having been a part of three start-ups throughout my career, I have experienced many highs and lows; I have taken risks with ambiguous outcomes, accepted challenges well outside my comfort zone and supported parts of the business that I did not know well. That said, it can be intimidating to dedicate time to something when the outcome is unknown, yet at the same time it is an incredibly rewarding experience for your career and professional development.

If you are considering a role with a start-up team, you should be aware of and prepared for multiple aspects of the environment. By keeping these six tips in mind, you can better equip yourself for a role at a start-up company.

Be Goal Oriented
Many start-ups can kick off without a hitch, but if they lose focus, they can eventually fail. Maintaining focus on business goals and how you contribute to these goals is paramount. You need to recognize the business model and where it needs to go to be successful, as well as what you personally need to achieve. While it may seem easy to get caught up in the little day-to-day distractions and challenges, always remind yourself of the bigger picture. The more organized you are, the easier this will be. Organization is one of the most important start-up skills to have because you will be more likely to successfully pitch ideas and gain support.

Stay Flexible and Open-Minded
Do not be surprised if you assume multiple roles in the start-up. After all, you will be working with a small group, so you may not have a go-to person for every aspect of the business. Instead of seeking out help, you may have to do it yourself. For example, a marketing specialist could find him or herself assuming the role of a data analyst if the start-up lacks a data-science team. By remaining flexible and being open to multiple roles, you gain a better understanding of business operations and demonstrate your initiative and capability to independently solve problems.

Take Informed Risks
Everyone can take risks. However, those who take informed risks forge paths and move mountains in start-up companies. By balancing responsibility and risk, you demonstrate intuitive thinking and create sustainable ideas. You may not always have evidence telling you what to do, but by researching and focusing on business goals, you will be a smarter risk taker. Developing this skill can be intimidating, but taking informed risks is necessary in propelling a start-up forward.

Don’t Just See the Problem, Do the Problem
Undoubtedly, you will encounter challenges daily. In the beginning, the challenges may be very broad and require thorough analysis and hard work to solve. As you recognize and foresee new problems, be proactive. Do not just tell someone about them; solve the problem for yourself. As part of a start-up team, your coworkers are counting on you to pick up on the smaller issues at hand to reach broader goals. When time is of the essence, it is your responsibility to solve the problem and move on.

Lift Your Boundaries
It can be easy to be protective of your work and defensive about your performance in any kind of role. At a start-up, however, you must remain humble and flexible. One day, you could be refilling the printer paper while the next day you could be negotiating an important business contract. Spending many hours with your team, you will grow more and more comfortable with your teammates. As the group becomes close-knit, you will better understand your coworkers and the importance of every role and get to know each team member on a personal level. Developing this sense of closeness will result in a collaborative, high-performing team.

Adopt a Can-Do Mentality
Many days, no two hours will be the same. You can expect to be kept on your toes, doing tasks you did not expect to do when you walked in that morning. You will be asked to try new things, and you will need to accept these challenges without hesitation. At times, you may be overwhelmed with tasks and will not know where to start. Women have the keen ability to multi-task efficiently, making start-up companies the perfect place to maximize these abilities. While this will be to your advantage, keep in mind that your shoulders are only so broad – take what you can and stay focused. A skill set can be learned, but attitude cannot be taught. By maintaining a can-do attitude, you create a more positive environment for yourself and your coworkers.

Above all, expect the start-up experience to be rewarding – and not just in a monetary sense. You will often find ambiguity during your time at a start-up when you cannot control the outcome. However, attaining great success and developing resilience from your experience is something you do not get to experience in every job. It is a tremendous achievement to be a part of a company during its founding stages and to witness all phases of its growth. To really create a business that started from nothing is one of the greatest rewards and accomplishments you will attain throughout your entire career.