Business growth can often feel like riding a roller coaster blindfolded. Leaders find themselves caught between excitement and chaos when their companies hit critical scaling moments. Volker Jaeckel, a FocalPoint Business Coach, fractional CMO, and DISC Behavioral Expert, has spent four decades helping overwhelmed executives navigate these high-stakes transitions with clarity and confidence. According to Volker, here’s how to coach business owners through growth pivots, those moments when scaling feels exciting but chaotic, and decisions carry greater risk:
Start with Strategic Clarity
Most business owners hit a growth spurt and immediately dive headfirst into putting out fires. Volker’s seen it a thousand times. “When a business hits a growth point, it’s easy for leaders to get caught in tactical overwhelm,” he says. His job is dragging them back up to see the bigger picture. He starts every engagement with the same questions. “What are we solving for? Who are we serving now, and who do we want to serve next?” Sounds simple, but most leaders can’t answer without stumbling around for ten minutes. Volker helps them revisit their vision and actually make it work in the real world.
“Without clarity, scaling just creates a bigger mess. With it, you create a clear roadmap,” Volker explains. One of his clients proved this point by growing revenue $4 million. The secret wasn’t complicated, they just figured out who they actually wanted to serve and built systems around that. Sometimes the best growth strategy is saying no to the wrong opportunities.
Coach the Behavior, Not Just the Business
Here’s where Volker does something different. While other consultants focus on flowcharts and org charts, he looks at the human running the show. “A successful pivot isn’t just a systems change, it’s a behavior shift,” he says. That’s where his DISC training becomes crucial. Every leader has blind spots that get worse under pressure. “For instance, a dominant leader may need to slow down communication to bring their team along. A high-I style may need help in making more data-driven decisions,” Volker points out.
These aren’t character flaws, they’re just natural tendencies that can derail growth if nobody’s paying attention. The magic happens when business owners finally connect their personal style to their business results. “When owners see how their behavior impacts results, they stop guessing and start leading,” he says. It’s like turning on the lights in a room you’ve been stumbling around in.
Systematize for Scalability
Growth means building systems that don’t fall apart when you take a day off. Volker coaches owners to create processes that work without them hovering over everything. “That means creating documented processes, measurable KPIs, and leadership structures that scale,” he explains. The personal cost shows up fast when you don’t systematize. Volker worked with one founder who was basically chained to his desk for five years straight. “Within 90 days, we had leadership protocols and systems in place, and he finally stepped away, with confidence that the business would run without him,” Volker recalls. That’s the real test of a scalable business. Can you disappear for a week without everything catching fire? If not, you don’t have a business – you have an expensive job that owns you.
Navigate the Emotional Curve of Change
Growth pivots mess with your head. Nobody talks about this part, but it’s huge. “Every growth pivot includes uncertainty, doubt, and resistance. A big part of coaching is helping clients normalize the emotional rollercoaster and lead through it,” Volker says. His perspective on resistance might surprise people. “I remind them: resistance is a sign of progress. Clarity is a process,” he explains. Instead of fighting these feelings, smart leaders expect them and push through anyway. The trick is staying steady when everything feels like it’s falling apart. “The key is to keep communicating, keep coaching, and keep aligning daily actions with long-term strategy,” Volker notes. Easier said than done, but that’s why having a coach matters.
Volker breaks it down into four pieces: think strategically, lead with awareness of your style, build systems, and stay tough emotionally. “Coaching through a growth pivot means guiding leaders to think strategically, lead behaviorally, systematize operations, and stay resilient through the emotional ups and downs,” he explains. His approach cuts through the usual business growth nonsense. “I believe every business owner deserves to grow with clarity, not chaos,” Volker says. For leaders stuck in their own growth challenges, his advice is straightforward: “Don’t just ask ‘what’s next,’ ask ‘what’s aligned.'” The difference between growth that works and growth that kills you usually comes down to having someone in your corner who’s been through it before.
Connect with Volker Jaeckel on LinkedIn or check out his website to learn how to scale your business with clarity.
