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The Truth About Organizational Hierarchy No One Tells Small Business Owners

December 10, 2025 • Melissa Franks

In this episode, Melissa breaks down one of the most misunderstood concepts in small business growth: organizational design. If you’ve ever wondered why your team feels stretched thin, why certain roles aren’t “working out,” or why it’s so hard to hire strategically this conversation is your roadmap.

Small businesses often grow faster than their internal structures, and that leads to confusion, overwhelm, and poor decision-making. Using examples from corporate America, real client scenarios, and her extensive hiring and organizational design experience, Melissa explains how to build a team intentionally instead of reactively.

What You’ll Learn

Why every business, no matter the industry, has the same core functions
The difference between generalists and specialists
The real reason your operations manager is “struggling”
How organizational hierarchy actually works
Why your business may need leaders more than doers as you grow
The myth of promoting from within
Why you, the owner, cannot be your team’s only teacher

If you aren't certain what roles your business needs:

👉 Book a free consultation with On Call COO: melissafranks.com

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