Skip to Content

What Actually Stops Companies from Scaling (And How to Fix It)

January 23, 2026 by
What Actually Stops Companies from Scaling (And How to Fix It)
Solutions By Maya LLC, Maya J Irizarry

Most of the people I work with are CEOs who want change—and they want it now.

They're not lacking vision or urgency. They're leading growing companies where expectations are high and timelines are tight.

What brings them to me is this question:

"We know where we're going, so why isn't the organization responding the way it should?"

In 2025, the answer was consistent:

Growth doesn't stall because of ambition. It stalls when communication, systems, and leadership behaviors aren't aligned to scale.

The Real Tension: Speed vs. Sustainability

CEOs want results. Teams want clarity. Everyone wants progress.

What often gets overlooked is that scaling well requires:

  • Clarity before complexity
  • Structure before speed
  • Patience with the details that allow momentum to hold

This isn't about slowing down. It's about building the foundation that allows teams to move faster without friction.

What I Saw Repeatedly in 2025

Across organizations and industries, the same patterns showed up:

Capable teams struggling with miscommunication

Strong leaders carrying more than they should

Systems that worked once, but not at scale

The fix was rarely motivational. It was structural and behavioral.

The Tools That Made the Difference

To move from insight to execution, three tools consistently accelerated alignment in 2025:

DISC

DISC created a shared language for communication and decision-making. Teams moved faster once they understood how different styles show up under pressure and how to adapt without conflict.

Emotional Intelligence (EQ)

EQ work helped leaders recognize how stress, reactions, and assumptions impacted outcomes. When leaders increased self-awareness, conversations became clearer and accountability improved.

The Prioritized Leader (TPL)

TPL brought structure to growth. It helped leaders align purpose, people, pace, perception, and profit; so decisions weren't just reactive, but intentional and sustainable.

Used together, these tools didn't add complexity. They reduced noise and created focus.

Where the Work Showed Up

In 2025, I supported leaders and teams through focused, practical engagements, including:

  • Hosting a national NRCA webinar on Strategies for Operational Excellence
  • Leading Sticky Conversations: Overcoming Difficult Dialogues in the Workplace at NWIR Florida Retreat (River Ranch) and the NAWIC Southeast Conference 
  • Partnering with Daymond John and The Shark Group, beginning with DISC assessments and closing the year with a live, in-person team communication and team-building workshop
  • Presenting You Are Not Hiring a Resume: The 5 C's of Building Strong Teams at the TPN Community's: 2nd Annual Elevate Conference

Different rooms. Same outcome: Teams responded faster once expectations, behaviors, and systems were aligned.

What CEOs Actually Needed (And Got)

The most effective work this year focused on:

  • Aligning roles and decision-making
  • Strengthening team cohesion
  • Installing systems and processes that supported execution
  • Giving leaders their time back by creating ownership at the team level

When leaders invested the time to iron out the details, teams moved with confidence instead of hesitation.

Industry Leadership & Long-Term Perspective

Beyond client work, 2025 also included leadership and service roles that reinforced long-term thinking:

  • Serving on the NWIR South Florida Board, helping launch educational, community impact, networking, and hands-on events
  • Participating on the NWIR National Mentoring Committee, supporting leadership growth nationally
  • Facilitating workshops with Broward SCORE
  • Mentoring through Baruch College
  • Supporting Junior Achievement South Florida, encouraging youth through pre-apprenticeship roofing trades and career-bound pathways

Mentorship is a reminder that growth is developed, not demanded.

Behind the Scenes: Practicing What I Preach

To better support clients, I:

  • Upgraded systems and technology
  • Introduced The Prioritized Leader to five companies
  • Closed the year with the highest revenue yet for Solutions By Maya

The result wasn't more effort, it was better alignment.

What This Means for 2026

If you're a CEO entering 2026, here's the takeaway:

Want faster execution? Align communication.

Want stronger teams? Build self-awareness.

Want sustainable scale? Put structure around growth.

The companies that win this year won't be the loudest or the fastest.

They'll be the ones clear enough to scale with confidence.

If You're Ready to Move Differently This Year

I'm opening three strategic planning engagements for Q1.

These are focused sessions designed to identify where communication, systems, or leadership behaviors are creating friction—and to build the roadmap that fixes it.

If you're a CEO who knows something needs to shift, and you want to approach it with intention, let's talk.

Book a discovery call here

Not every engagement is the right fit, but the conversation will bring clarity either way.

What Actually Stops Companies from Scaling (And How to Fix It)
Solutions By Maya LLC, Maya J Irizarry January 23, 2026
Archive