Committees don’t create successful startups. A single visionary
entrepreneur almost always is the initial implementer of an innovative
new venture, but that lone entrepreneur doesn’t have the bandwidth to
grow the business alone. He or she needs the multiplier of growing from
the “doer” to a team-builder and leader. That’s a big transition, and
many entrepreneurs never make it.
These
entrepreneurs know instinctively what needs to be done, but they may
have no idea how to get it done through others. Some will argue that
people leadership is a skill you have to be born with, but I’m convinced
that it can be learned from experience, mentoring and failures. The
ones who learn quickest are the ones who move from good entrepreneurs to
good business leaders.
In my experience working with
entrepreneurs and business leaders, I have found no magic formula or
recipe to get you there, but there are some key leadership principles
that anyone can aspire too and learn from, including the following:
1. Become an ardent student of leadership.
Entrepreneurs
who become business leaders study the successes of peers and seek to
emulate them. They reach to find mentors who have been there, read books
on the subject, and participate in leadership development programs.
Leadership requires focus and effort and doesn’t happen by title.
2. Set personal leadership goals and solicit feedback.
Business leadership requires spending more time working on the business, and less time working in
the business. You can measure these activities yourself and get
validation from your team. How much of your time is spent on futures,
strategizing and coaching versus fixing daily crises?
3. Tackle new challenges outside your comfort zone.
If
you never push your limits and never fail, you never learn new
capabilities. As a new entrepreneur, perhaps you have no experience with
hiring and delegating, yet these skills are not rocket science. Don’t
be afraid to ask for support from more experienced peers and human
resources experts.
4. Celebrate small successes and learn from failures.
People
who demand perfection from themselves are rarely good leaders. Learn to
celebrate small steps in the right direction and failures that are a
source of real insight. Be humble and transparent in involving your team
and even your customers in your successes and your mistakes.
5. Recognize and reward leadership successes around you.
Working
to recognize and celebrate leadership in others will supplement and
solidify your own capabilities. The more often you walk in the shoes of
leaders around you, the easier and more natural it will be for you to
define and capitalize on your own leadership elements.
6. Demand strong performance and deal quickly with mediocrity.
Recognized
business leaders are known for their expectation of excellence from
their team -- and from themselves. They do not tolerate mediocrity
around them, which keeps their teams highly motivated and proud to be
associated with the leader as a role model.
7. Work on improving your communication skills.
Effective
leadership requires effective communication, including verbal,
written and body-language. Your team, customers and partners need to
understand your vision, goals and what is expected of them before they
decide to follow you. Great leaders also practice active listening and
full attention.
8. Go forward with passion and a positive attitude.
No
one wants to follow a habitually grumpy or negative entrepreneur.
Business people are naturally attracted to passionate, motivated and
enthusiastic peers. A side benefit is that you will feel happier and
more fulfilled when surrounded by similar positive people. This is a
self-fulfilling prophecy.
To
grow from being an entrepreneur to a business leader is a personal
challenge and not one that everyone can deal with. The core principles
are the same for both -- develop and articulate a vision, act
decisively and build personal relationships. The leadership multiplier
is required to effectively incent others around you to do the same. How
well is that multiplier working for you?
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