Once an organization is “off the ground,” it is essential to maintain operations by:

1. Understanding the personalities of staff.
2. Understanding the needs of staff.
3. Understanding the abilities of staff.
4. Focusing on the process involved in operations.
5. Developing the desired culture.
6. Reinforcing positive communication.
7. Developing positive relationships.
8. Addressing staff demands.

Maintaining operations builds on the work from the Plan and Launch phase, incorporating the following two steps: Encourage Collaboration and Evaluate the Business. While excellent operations are no guarantee against failure, subpar operations weaken the organization’s ability to succeed. The business will want to be in the best shape for the final phase: Develop and Expand.