How do you navigate the unpredictable and at times, unforgiving world of startups? And ultimately, is the experience worth it?

In August of 2018, I joined the Admissions consulting services division of Byju’s, a growing startup well on its way to achieving success at that point. I had returned from the US and having worked in startups and small businesses there, I was excited to experience the entrepreneurial wave India was on. I didn’t know what to expect and it turned out that that was probably the best way to approach my first experience with an Indian startup. What made this experience unique was that although Byju’s was a fairly large organization, this particular division was still run like an early-stage startup.

I had a fair sense of what the job entailed but since it was my first managerial role, I faced multiple challenges. Looking back, I would not change my experience but I do believe there are certain things I would do differently. I am able to reflect on this with clarity because of my current role at Dunzo. While it is not without its challenges, I can see the impact my choices are making already. Here is my advice for people looking to make that jump.

The first thing to do is to assess yourself. Are you willing to compromise on things you have become accustomed to. This can mean work hours which can be anything from marathon stretches without weekends to working the graveyard shift. It can mean changes in work location and unexpected travel. It can mean uncertainty in basically every aspect of your work life. It is important to understand if you can be flexible to the needs of the business, even when it might not always make sense. If you feel this is for you, then you can look forward to an exciting and enriching experience.

Once you decide to take the step and land the role, things can change very quickly. when entering an existing setup, the essential need for someone in a managerial role is the existence of and adherence to hierarchy. The chain of command has to be in place for someone from the outside to take charge and impact their team’s performance. Without this, the power structure is not visible and it ensures a lot of jockeying for influence.

If you enter a circumstance where the hierarchy is not clearly defined, my advice would be to stick to what is clearly defined and actively work to bring people and processes under definition. I don’t recommend taking advantage of the chaos to make hasty alliances or compromise on your values to get your objectives met. While this may seem like a good strategy and can flourish in the absence of competent leadership, the fact that it is working means that the organization is not destined to last.

The US has long been lauded for its ability to influence decision-making through its soft power. You can do this on an individual level too. Being able to identify and connect with people from a variety of backgrounds will help you secure valuable inputs from your peers about how the organization works and how you can find your place in it. It would be wise not to take on the weariness and perhaps, lack of belief, that people have for the system.

Gathering information before you act is fundamental to your success at a startup. While it may be tempting to bring in your learning from past experiences and enforce them quickly, I would recommend collecting as much information as you can and acting on only what you are sure of. While this may be a slow process at the start, it is important to be persistent and stick with the process. The results are far more rewarding in the long run.

Being adaptable is fundamental to success in a startup. The one constant in an evolving organization is change. The goal is to go from being overwhelmed by, to looking forward to change. While change may not always be for the best, In a startup with good leadership, change is not pursued without a lot of thought. On an individual level, this means keeping track of and analyzing what each change means for you and your teams. Understanding how people can be brought on board with the changes and deciding whether opposition to change is valid is important.

I haven’t covered everything there is to know about working for and growing in startups. But, I hope this serves as a beginner’s guide to help people looking to join a startup.

Is it worth it? Definitely. Apart from the free coffee and the lack of a dress code, startups have a wealth of knowledge and experience to gain from. Most importantly, you can impact the business in a much more direct way and at a much quicker pace than in a large organization. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.