Checklist for Evaluating Your Next Growth Role: Ensuring Success in Your Career Move

🌱 Considering a role in a Growth team? 🚀 Make sure you're set up for success by asking the right questions. I've learned the hard way, so here's a quick checklist to guide you.

Growth Strategy and Alignment:

• What is the company's overall growth strategy, and how does the Growth team fit into it? Ensure alignment with the company's broader goals.
• Does the company have a documented track record of successful growth initiatives, or is this a new venture? Past successes can be indicative of future potential.
• Does the company have a North Star metric or a singular focus for growth? This metric can help align the team's efforts and goals.
• How does the company prioritise retention and expansion, not just acquisition?
• How does the company approach the "growth model" and "levers of growth"? Understanding the specific growth model can provide clarity on strategy.

Team Structure and Resources: 

• How is the company's growth team structured, and what cross-functional roles are involved? Does the team have Engineering, Data, Design, Product, and Marketing resources directly part of the team (not just cross-functional)? Growth teams without dedicated engineering and data resources are mostly likely doomed to failure.

Metrics and Measurement:

• Who defines the Growth metrics? And how many teams are tasked with Growth targets? A clear ownership structure is vital.
  • Are there clear KPIs for the role, and how are they measured? Having well-defined metrics is key to tracking progress.
  • How often do they review Growth metrics and targets? While regular assessments indicate a data-driven approach and might also indicate too much focus on very short-term impact (Not healthy).

Role and Impact:

• Is the Growth team the primary driver for growth, or does it heavily rely on other teams like content and sales?
  • How soon do they expect to see an impact? Understanding the timeline is key for setting realistic expectations.

Data and Technology:

• What's the state of the data, and what role does the data team play? Is it limited to reporting and dashboards, or are they proactively shaping the strategy?
• What tools and technology stack does the Growth team use? Understanding the tech infrastructure can help you assess efficiency and innovation.

Culture and Learning:

• How does the team handle failure and experimentation? A culture that encourages learning from failures is crucial in a Growth-oriented environment.
• What is the team's approach to user feedback and customer insights? Understanding the customer-centric focus is essential for driving growth.
• Does the company invest in ongoing training and development for its team members? Staying up-to-date in the ever-evolving field of Growth is crucial.

Role Specific (Growth Marketing):

• For those considering a Growth Marketing role: Is it genuinely a Performance Marketing team within a larger Marketing Org? It's more common than you think.
• What's the company's approach to lifecycle marketing and user engagement?

Remember, the due diligence you do now can significantly impact your success in a Growth role. Your career growth starts with informed decisions. 📈💼