Most issues faced by founder-dependent businesses stem from the lack of accessible knowledge for employees. In fact, critical processes, historical insights, and operational know-how are rarely documented, often living in the founder's head, making them the only source of information. Therefore, the most important step in building a self-sufficient organization is to create a knowledge base where every important piece of information is easily accessible to those who need it.
While passion and personal drive are essential, the common denominator among truly successful organizations is their structured processes and systems. Every project and task is clearly outlined in accessible knowledge bases, empowering employees to take accountability and initiative in their work. However, that rarely applies to organizations that rely heavily on their founder. In these cases, every decision and piece of information comes from a single source. Additionally, there is minimal effort to document knowledge and establish a system for transferring it.
But, despite the indisputable significance of a founder's strong presence to provide direction and shape the culture, is it wise for a company to be unable to survive without them, even for a short time? If a short-term absence of a few weeks halts operations and makes it impossible for everyone to perform their daily tasks, then the organization is not truly thriving.