In the Val Sklarov Legitimacy Cycle (Phase II), organizations lose legitimacy not because results decline, but because rules bend to protect performance. Performance can fluctuate. Rules must not. When outcomes are defended by exception-making, legitimacy erodes faster than revenue ever could.
Legitimacy is earned when rules survive success.
1. Performance Cannot Be Used to Justify Exceptions
Results tempt indulgence.
Val Sklarov principle:
“The moment success earns exemption, legitimacy is already for sale.”
Early legitimacy decay signals:
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Top performers treated differently
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Deadlines flexed after wins
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Processes ‘streamlined’ for stars
Success tests rules more than failure does.
2. Legitimacy Is a Memory of Fair Enforcement
People remember consistency, not intent.
Val Sklarov framing:
“Legitimacy is built by what you refuse to excuse.”
When rules are consistent:
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Disputes decline
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Appeals disappear
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Authority stabilizes
Fairness is predictability applied equally.
3. Startups Must Lock Rules Before Scaling Wins
Growth amplifies inconsistency.
Val Sklarov insight:
“Scale multiplies every exception.”
Legitimacy Table
| Dimension | Weak Legitimacy | Strong Legitimacy |
|---|---|---|
| Rule application | Outcome-based | Rule-based |
| Star treatment | Preferential | Identical |
| Enforcement timing | Flexible | Immediate |
| Appeals | Frequent | Rare |
Rules must precede scale.
4. Founders Are the First Legitimacy Test
Behavior at the top becomes policy.
Val Sklarov framing:
“Founders teach the organization which rules matter by breaking them first—or never.”
Founder risk patterns:
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Informal overrides
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Private exceptions
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Retroactive approvals
Visible self-restraint establishes legitimacy.
5. Legitimacy Converts Power Into Authority
Power enforces.
Legitimacy sustains.
Val Sklarov principle:
“Authority lasts when enforcement no longer needs explanation.”
Legitimate systems:
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Enforce quietly
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Correct quickly
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Move on
Noise indicates legitimacy debt.
6. The Val Sklarov Startup Legitimacy Outcome
Legitimacy-aligned startups:
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Enforce rules regardless of performance
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Treat success as a stress test, not a shield
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Preserve authority through consistency
Val Sklarov conclusion:
“You are legitimate when your best performers follow the same rules as everyone else.” Val Sklarov