Founders’ flow: A qualitative study on the role of flow experience in early start-up stages

Abstract

Flow experience is a state of complete absorption while performing an optimally challenging and enjoyable task. It is often experienced at work—both in the form of individual and team flow—and can have a positive effect on performance and well-being. However, start-up founders’ work situation differs from that in established companies, facing not only great autonomy but also new challenges, uncertainty, and risks. It can be assumed that flow also provides benefits in start-ups, however, this has not yet been examined in depth and the factors that may operate differently in start-ups in comparison to other work contexts have not yet been explored in detail. Using a qualitative research approach, 21 founders from different industries were interviewed. Enhancing and inhibiting factors of flow and team flow as well as consequences for the founders and the start-up in general were examined and structured with the help of a qualitative content analysis. A variety of contexts was identified in which founders experienced flow and team flow. Various factors on the individual, task-related and organizational sphere were found to be perceived as promoting or hindering flow and team flow, e.g. well-being, autonomy or the environment. The findings regarding the consequences of flow and team flow show that these mainly are very desirable states for founders, e.g. leading to better results, progress or team processes. Only few negative consequences were identified, e.g. perfectionism. Thus, it is helpful to foster flow in the start-up context. Possible approaches derived from the participants’ statements to this could be, for example, to design flow-promoting environments or participation in specific workshops.