Culture Isn’t Built at Scale. It Starts Small.

I’ve worked with enough small businesses to know this: you don’t need thousands of employees to have culture problems. You just need a few people, a little pressure, and no time to step back and look at how things are running.

Most owners of small companies assume that organizational development is something for big corporations with layers of HR, compliance departments, and conference room retreats. But the truth is, when your team is small, every dynamic matters more. Every tension is magnified. Every missed opportunity to communicate or coach has a bigger ripple effect.

I’ve seen small teams burn out because one person was allowed to steamroll the rest. I’ve seen amazing talent walk out the door because nobody thought to invest in growth conversations. And I’ve seen business owners lose sleep because they knew something felt off but couldn’t put their finger on it.

That’s where OD work shines.

It’s not about building bureaucracy. It’s about building trust. Creating rhythms for feedback. Making sure your people aren’t just showing up, but are invested in the mission — because they’ve had a hand in shaping it.

And when something does need to change, OD helps you actually do it. Not just talk about it, not just throw a pizza party to mask it. But identify the friction and walk through it together.

If you’re leading a team of five or fifty, and you know things could run smoother — let’s talk. Fill out the contact form on jandmsolves.com by clicking “Home” and then “Yes, I want that.” We’d love to hear what’s going on and see if we can help.