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When growth outpaces capacity: How high-performing marketing teams can stay ahead

Written by Yiuwin Tsang | Jun 30, 2025 11:41:26 AM

At Disruptive Thinking we have the privilege of working with some of the most capable, creative, and driven marketing teams out there. These are the people who build brands, drive campaigns, and deliver results, often while juggling competing priorities at breakneck speed.

But even the strongest teams can hit a point where growth starts to outpace capacity. It’s not a failure, it’s a signal that things are working. Demand is increasing. The business is scaling. 

But with that success comes a new challenge: keeping everything running smoothly without burning out your team or missing new opportunities.

Here are a few of the common growing pains we see as companies hit that next level. If any of these sound familiar, know this: you’re not alone, and there’s a smarter, more scalable way forward.

1. The team is doing a lot but it’s hard to keep up

Marketing managers are pros at multitasking. But as the business grows, so does the complexity. More campaigns, more channels, more decisions. Sometimes, it feels like there just aren’t enough hours in the day, even for the best.

2. Great ideas get delayed

With competing priorities and limited bandwidth, it’s easy for things to fall through the cracks. A promising insight doesn’t make it into the next campaign. A smart test gets postponed. Not because of a lack of skill, but because the team is maxed out.

3. The processes that were designed in the past struggle in the present

What worked brilliantly for one brand or market might not scale across five. Old workflows start to feel clunky, and tech stacks that once powered the team now limit agility. It's not about what’s broken but about what needs to evolve.

4. The team is feeling the strain

Long hours and shifting priorities can take a toll. Even high performers need space to think and recharge. When there’s no room to lift your head, it becomes harder to stay creative, aligned, and ahead of the curve.

 

What’s the solution?

A flexible model that scales with you. And the good news is, you don’t have to do it alone if you don’t want to. You’ve built something strong. Now it’s time to give that team the support, flexibility, and tools to go even further.

Here are some things you might want to consider: 

  • Fractional CMO support to sharpen positioning and lead strategy
  • On-demand agency talent to flex around your in-house team

And if that’s not in the plan, think about:

  • Centralising your project management
  • Automating routine tasks
  • Creating shared content and asset libraries
  • Develop simple dashboards for key metrics
  • Standardise campaign launch processes
  • Develop integrated workflows across the business
  • Foster regular cross-team check-ins

If you’re looking for fractional or agency support we can help. But if you just want some advice on how to set things up for better internal productivity, we also have a lot of experience in helping businesses get set up for success without increasing headcount.

Get in touch with yiuwin@hellodisruptive.com if you’d like to find out more.