Growth Is Supposed to Feel Good. So Why Does It Feel So Heavy - with Lauren Zaslansky Conner

Episode Description

Growth is often portrayed as the goal.

More revenue. More customers. More opportunity.

But behind the scenes, growth can create something much heavier: more decisions, more pressure, more complexity, and more responsibility resting on the shoulders of leaders and founders.

In this episode of Deals with Heels, Debra Bowers sits down with fractional COO and revenue operations strategist Lauren Zaslansky Conner to explore what really happens during the messy middle of growth.

Together they discuss founder bottlenecks, decision fatigue, operational complexity, change management, team empowerment, customer experience, burnout, and why many organizations struggle not because of a lack of opportunity, but because their systems, processes, and leadership capacity haven't evolved alongside their growth.

Lauren shares practical insights from years of helping growing organizations create structure, improve communication, and navigate change without sacrificing their people in the process.

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by growth, stuck in constant decision-making, or frustrated by organizational friction, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at what sustainable growth actually requires.

Key Topics

• The hidden weight of growth and leadership

• The messy middle of business growth

• Why founders become organizational bottlenecks

• Decision fatigue and leadership overwhelm

• Growth versus operational readiness

• The connection between sales, operations, and customer experience

• Why organizations struggle with change management

• Empowering employees without creating confusion

• The role of systems, documentation, and process clarity

• Why retention is often more valuable than acquisition

• Communication breakdowns during growth

• The dangers of burnout by example

• Leadership modeling and workplace culture

• Unlimited PTO, vacation culture, and employee well-being

• Why businesses aren't families—and why that distinction matters

• Building sustainable growth through clarity and intentional leadership

Resources

Connect with Our Guest, Lauren Zaslansky Conner

ZAZ Business Solutions
Helping growing organizations navigate the messy middle of growth through operational clarity, strategic planning, revenue operations, and sustainable systems.

Website:
https://zazbusinesssolutions.com

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenzaslanskyconner

Interested in exploring what's creating friction in your growth or operations? Lauren welcomes conversations with founders and leaders navigating periods of change, scale, and organizational complexity.

Connect with Debra Bowers & Stay Connected with Deals with Heels

LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/debra-bowers/

Free Resource – 5 Signs Your Growth Is Breaking:
https://5signs.thegrowthvanguard.com/

The Human Sales Playbook:
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/free-ebook

The Growth Vanguard:
https://thegrowthvanguard.com/

Hexagon Media:
https://hexagonmedia.net/

If this conversation resonated with you, share it with a leader, founder, or colleague who needs to hear it.

Deals with Heels is where we explore the human side of leadership, growth, sales, decision-making, and the moments that shape who we become as leaders.

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Until next time, stand strong in your power—especially when it gets uncomfortable.