As entrepreneurs, we work really hard to build our businesses and depend on our team to help make our ideas a reality. But what happens if one important person — the one who makes everything work — decides to leave? Is your business ready for that? Last week, I spoke with an old friend who faced this problem. His story is a good lesson about the risks of running a business and how we can avoid them.
The Cautionary Tale: A Startup’s Rise and Fall
My friend had a successful startup that was growing fast. Their product was new and exciting, and the company was becoming more popular. But there was one very important person behind all of this: Mike, the main engineer. Mike was the one who created the special technology that made their product stand out. His skills and ideas were the foundation of the company’s success.
For years, Mike was the key to the company’s success. He made all the important decisions and helped create new ideas. Everyone, including my friend, thought that as long as Mike was there, the company would do well. But then, one day, everything changed. Mike decided to move far away for family reasons. Just like that, the thing that made the company special was gone.
The change was sudden and big. The company, which had been doing great because of Mike’s work, started having trouble without him. My friend quickly realized that they had made a common mistake called "Key Man Risk," where a business depends too much on one person.
What is Key Man Risk?
Key man risk refers to a situation where a business depends too much on one person who possesses specialized skills or knowledge, has created key products, who is good at networking, or has significantly contributed to building the reputation of the company. When that person leaves or can’t work anymore, it can cause big problems for the business.
In my friend’s case, when Mike left, the company was in trouble. Without him, they weren’t sure what would happen to the product, and they didn’t have anyone else with the right skills to take over. They didn’t have a backup plan or a team ready to step in and keep things going smoothly.
The Hidden Dangers of Key Man Risk
The sad reality of entrepreneurship is that most of the start ups rely too much on one person. It might be due to avoiding major risks especially when that person is really good at what they do. However, depending too much on a single is not always a good idea.
A business that leans too much on one person might struggle if that person leaves or deals with personal issues. Make sure you have systems in place to handle it.
The key to avoiding Key Man Risk is not about ignoring the work of important people, but making sure the business can keep running smoothly even if they’re not around.
How to Rectify Key Man Risk in Your Business
As a business owner, there are things you can do to protect your business from depending too much on one person. Here are some ways to make your business stronger:
- Build a Strong, Diverse Team: A successful business needs everyone working together, not just one person. It’s important to have strong leaders, but no one should be impossible to replace. Hire people with different skills and create a team where everyone helps each other and shares responsibilities.
- Document Key Processes: One simple way to keep things running well is to write down the steps and instructions for important tasks. This can include everything from how products are made to how you advertise. By keeping track of this information, you make sure others can take over if someone leaves, and nothing gets messed up.
- Develop Leadership Bench Strength: Don’t wait until there’s a problem to start building leaders in your team. Help train and guide people so they’re ready to take on important roles. This way, if someone important leaves, others can step up and keep things running.
- Create Contingency Plans: Don’t let your company depend on just one person. Make sure you’re ready with a plan in case they leave. This might mean teaching other team members their job, hiring someone to fill in, or having a plan for when leaders change.
- Leverage Technology and Systems: Create automated systems that can grow and work without constant attention. This way, your business won’t depend on one person, and it’ll keep running smoothly if they’re not available. Using technology helps make the business run easier and lets it work without needing one specific person.
- Focus on Building Company Culture: A strong company culture helps employees feel at home and want to stay. When they believe in the company's values and goals, they’re more likely to stick around and keep the team united.
As a business owner, it’s easy to depend a lot on a few people who seem impossible to replace. But the truth is, no one should be the only person holding things together. Your company should be strong enough to handle changes, face challenges, and keep growing, even if someone leaves unexpectedly.
Has your business ever struggled due to relying on one person too much? How did you work through it, and what are you doing to ensure your business can handle any changes? Share your thoughts in the comments below!