There are plenty of things entrepreneurs need to learn how to do when they're first starting out: how to deal with an infinite amount of tasks and how to deal with difficult clients or partners are just two examples. And when it comes being a leader, there are certain qualities that need to be learned too, and are crucial for succeeding as an entrepreneur.
That's why we asked five entrepreneurs from FounderSociety the following question:
Q. What is one leadership quality you had to learn as a new entrepreneur in order to be successful? How did you learn it?
1. Don't Crowdsource Every Decision
We have a tendency to reach out to our network, our social media audience, and our customers to guide decision-making. But not every decision warrants crowdsourcing. Sometimes you'll learn more from moving quickly, trusting your gut, and getting it wrong than you will by following the whim of every stakeholder in your network. Trust yourself to get it right and to recover quickly when you don't. —Jules Taggart, Jules Taggart Marketing Strategy
2. Be Someone People Will Want to Follow
The sort of charisma that lands you clients and endears you with investors isn’t the only thing you need in order for your employees to look up to you. You can’t just be someone who’s fun to be around; you also need to be someone people can admire and respect. Accountability for your decisions and mistakes, confidence tempered by humility, and passion for your craft are all key elements here. —Steven Buchwald, The E2 Visa Lawyer
3. Have Patience
As someone who values efficiency, I tend to be relatively impatient. This has led me to scare off new hires in the past as I tried to get them to finish tasks on time. Throughout my experience, I've learned that it's important to be patient to help new employees feel closer. —Ajmal Saleem, Suprex Learning
4. Know That Not Everyone Is the Same
Some people like receiving public praise while others don't think that a job well done requires a reward. Figuring this out will help a lot when times get tough, when deadlines are looming or clients are upset for some reason. Learn how to communicate with your team the way they like to be communicated with. —Ben Walker, Transcription Outsourcing, LLC
5. Stay Humble
Don't be afraid to say, "I was wrong," or "I made a mistake." It's okay to show vulnerabilities to your employees. It's especially critical as a leader to show your strengths and your weaknesses, and to be as real and as human as you possibly can. —Nadia Hansen, Result Logix
