As a startup, one of the most important things you need is effective execution. Many people believe that the key to successful execution is speed. While speed is undoubtedly critical, it is not enough on its own. At The Pioneers, we believe that implementing a well-designed people operating system (peopleOS) is the most important thing you can do to unlock growth and achieve success as a startup.
What is a People Operating System?
At its core, a people operating system is a systemic way of looking at people management. It is about seeing how all the different applications, initiatives, and processes that you put in place to get work done come together as a system. This system has a profound influence on your company culture and the experience of your employees. By taking a systemic perspective, you can create a seamless, coherent user experience that makes it easy for your employees to do great work.
The key difference between a people operating system and traditional HR is that HR tends to focus on discreet applications and initiatives rather than looking at the big picture. A people operating system, on the other hand, takes a systemic view of people management, understanding that all the components must work together to create a seamless experience for your employees.
Why Does a People Operating System Matter for EU Startups?
A people operating system matters for EU startups for several reasons:
- Breaking through the natural limits of growth As a startup, you want to grow quickly and break through the natural limits of growth that can inhibit your progress. Implementing a people operating system can help you achieve this goal by providing you with the tools and processes you need to manage your people effectively and create a seamless user experience.
- Making rapid growth less painful Working in a rapidly growing company can be intense, but it doesn’t have to be painful. By implementing a people operating system, you can create an employee experience that is streamlined and efficient, allowing your people to focus on what matters most.
- Building the future Finally, EU startups are building the future of work, and implementing a people operating system can help you create a culture that drives your growth and inspires your people.
Designing a Startup Operating System
To design an effective startup operating system, you need to focus on five key attributes:
- Structured: Your operating system must be designed so that all inputs and outputs interoperate toward the same objective(s).
- Efficient: Your operating system must produce maximum output with minimal energy waste.
- Adaptable: Your operating system must be easy to adjust to new conditions or requirements.
- Instrumented: Your operating system must capture and report critical intelligence that operators can use to inform decisions.
- Anti-fragile: Your operating system must be able to increase in capability, resilience, or robustness as a result of stressors, shocks, volatility, noise, mistakes, faults, attacks, or failures.
Out-of-the-box operating system methods are unlikely to work for your startup. Instead, you need to create an operating system that is tailored to the unique needs of your company. This can be a challenging task, but it is one that pays off in spades when done well.
Conclusion
If you want to unlock growth and achieve success as a EU startup, you need to focus on effective execution. This means implementing a people operating system that provides you with the tools and processes you need to manage your people effectively and create a seamless user experience. By doing so, you can break through the natural limits of growth, make rapid growth less painful, and build the future of work.
Further Reading
If you want to learn more about people operating systems, we recommend reading the following resources:
- The Pioneers: What is a peopleOS? https://www.thepioneers.co.uk/posts/what-is-a-peopleos
- A Startup’s Operating System https://medium.com/swlh/a-startups-operating-system-859912c3d2dd
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