Bigger isn’t always better, and that’s especially true in business. Growing your company is important and often necessary to reach your goals, but scaling too quickly or ineffectively will only backfire. You need to find the right pace and level of growth — otherwise, you’ll end up biting off much more than you and your team can chew.

If you’re able to read the warning signs properly, you’ll know when your business is about to veer off track. Fourteen members of Forbes Coaches Council shared the biggest red flags to look for when you’re scaling.

1. You’re Forgetting Your Core Principles 

Stay focused on the core principles that enabled your success. Often, when companies experience great success, they begin chasing shiny objects (quick revenue opportunities) which distracts them from the core principles that built their foundation. It’s important to have self-awareness and methods in place to make sure you’re always focused on your vision and the culture you’re building. – Ben Newman, The Ben Newman Companies

2. Key People Are Leaving 

Scaling too quickly is revealed when you begin to lose key people. Growing fast brings tension and often leaves workers overwhelmed and overcommitted. When people begin to flee the company, the company must find the leak and plug it. When growth is at the right speed, people will respond with energy and effectiveness. Growing at the right speed brings people along, it doesn’t leave them behind. – Ken Gosnell, CEO Experience

3. Your Leadership Is Reactive Instead Of Proactive 

When senior leaders are using time and resources and react versus proact, the wheels are falling off the wagon. Watch the profound ripple effect as employees at all levels may become overwhelmed, overstretched and overburdened. Look for cues like missing deadlines, declining customer satisfaction, increased absenteeism, low employee morale and engagement. Be sure to re-tool quickly. – Christine J. Culbertson (Boyle), Coach Christine

4. Exhaustion Outweighs Exhilaration 

When you’re moving fast, you’re going to get tired. But a “good tired” sends you to bed energized, ready to launch into the next day. A “bad tired” means you’re starting to burn out, and you’re on your way to making bad decisions. As a leader in a fast-growing enterprise, too many “bad tired” nights may mean it’s time to slow down and recalibrate what will energize you once again. – Darcy Eikenberg, Red Cape Revolution

5. Your Bottom Line Is Decreasing 

The biggest red flag for any business decision is a decrease in the bottom line. If a company invests in ways to scale its operations, it should be to meet an increase in demand and a corresponding increase in sales. If the cost to scale is greater than the forecasted revenue, the ROI on the investment won’t be realized. – Andrea MacKenzie, Lead With Harmony

6. You Can No Longer Meet The Demands of Your Business And Clientele 

When you are not able to meet the demands of your clientele and you have no immediate contingency plan, it is a good indication that you are scaling quickly. As an entrepreneur or company leader, it is vital that you know the pulse of your clientele. Not only do you need to know the pulse of your clientele, you should be able to meet the demands of your clientele. – Marcedes Fuller, Marcedes M. Fuller