Finding the Balance Between Authentic Leadership and Effective Team Management
This week on ScaleUp Radio Shorts, Kevin Brent and Granger Forson unpack two very different approaches to building a thriving business: one grounded in detailed systems and appreciation, the other in self-awareness and authenticity. The interviews with Paddy White of Virtual Diamond and Megan Stachini of Intrinsic offer a powerful comparison on how leaders shape their businesses — and where many go wrong.
Why Do So Few Businesses Scale Beyond 10 Employees?
According to the ScaleUp Challenge Report, only 4% of UK businesses scale beyond 10 employees. One major factor? Team issues. BizSmart's data shows that 50% of business owners struggle to get staff to take responsibility, and 46% admit they don’t have the right people in place to grow.
This week’s ScaleUp Club guests tackle this issue from opposite ends of the spectrum.
Building a Loyal, High-Performing Team Through Process and Appreciation
Paddy White built Virtual Diamond, a virtual assistant business, from the ground up through referral-based growth and practical systems. Her team-first philosophy is backed by structure:
Weekly 1:1s and Monthly Reviews to keep communication strong
Hiring for fit and preference to keep team members in their flow
Transparent financials to help the team feel part of the mission
Thoughtful recognition – from birthday gifts to sharing client praise
Her approach embodies the Execution and People pillars from The Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System – reinforcing Kevin Brent’s belief that systems drive scalability when teams feel ownership.
"If people feel appreciated, they’ll go the extra mile." – Paddy White
And they do: 98% of Paddy's business comes from networking and referrals. Her success shows what happens when you empower teams with structure and appreciation.
Leading From Within: Why Self-Discovery Is the Foundation for Scaling
Megan Stachini’s approach couldn’t be more different and equally essential. The founder of Intrinsic argues that many business challenges stem from the leader’s lack of clarity, not the team.
"The business is an extension of you. If you’re not clear on who you are, neither is the business."
Megan helps business owners identify their real values, motivations, and priorities before building strategies. Her message echoes The Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System’s insight: Strategy without alignment leads to friction.
According to the ScaleUp Challenge Report:
53% of business owners don’t have a clear growth strategy
61% expect to double their business in 3 years, but only 19% actually do
Many misjudge profit by not accounting for market-rate salaries
Megan connects these gaps to a misalignment between personal vision and business model. Leaders chasing the wrong version of success are more likely to:
Get pulled into day-to-day operations
Burn out
Hire the wrong team members
Her message? Real growth starts with real self-awareness.
Structure vs. Self: Which Comes First?
Paddy and Megan offer two sides of the same coin:
Paddy: Engaged teams create sustainable growth.
Megan: Authentic leadership creates engaged teams.
Both believe in delegation, clarity, and intentional culture. But while Paddy builds trust through appreciation and process, Megan sees trust as a by-product of alignment between leader and mission.
As Kevin Brent says in The Entrepreneurial ScaleUp System:
"People don’t fail because they didn’t have a plan. They fail because their plan wasn’t rooted in what they really wanted."
So before building a high-performing team, ask: Do you know what you're building it for?
ScaleUp Radio Shorts Podcast: Deeper Dive With Kevin & Granger
🎙️ Want a sharp, insightful take on the lessons from Paddy and Megan? In the latest episode of ScaleUp Radio Shorts, hosts Kevin Brent and Granger Forson explore:
The difference between practical team appreciation and deeper team alignment
What leaders often miss when scaling feels stuck
How business owners can better connect personal values to business vision
The recurring challenges seen in 7-figure businesses from the ScaleUp Challenge Report
This short episode is packed with actionable insights for ambitious founders ready to grow without losing themselves in the process.
🎧 Listen now to ScaleUp Radio Shorts: https: https://youtu.be/Fx_tp5Lw4ww
Smart90 and SmartBoards: Turning Insights Into Action
Whether you're struggling to delegate or unsure where you're headed, BizSmart's structured support can help:
✅ Smart90® creates a culture of accountability and team ownership with a powerful 90-Day Planning system.
✅ SmartBoards® connects you with non-competing peers for monthly advisory sessions and expert coaching.
✅ We also offer hands-on business coaching in Worcestershire, supporting leaders across the region to scale with clarity and control.
Our members report an average 36% profit growth in the first year and have doubled business value in three.
📞 Book a call with BizSmart to explore how we can support your journey.
Final Thought
Scaling isn’t just about finding the right people. It’s about knowing yourself well enough to lead them.
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