Although anyone can start a business, only leaders succeed. Most entrepreneurs know that the odds are long, and only a minority of them will grow their businesses to self-sustaining status. Hence, leadership skills are essential to succeed in startup leadership. However, despite the many benefits of startup leadership, there are some aspects of this type of leadership that most entrepreneurs fail to understand. To understand startup leadership skills better, we have compiled some important tips that you can use today.
Personal leadership
A foundational element of any organization is personal leadership. Personal leadership sets the stage for an organizational culture based on an ethical compass and a clear view of strengths and weaknesses. It also introduces a growth mindset to the culture, laying the groundwork for an environment of trust, transparency, and continual learning. Founders should strive to make their startups as personal as possible, with a strong focus on building trust and respect.
Vision
A vision is a critical ingredient of startup leadership. A clear and inspiring vision creates a sense of purpose, generates meaning in the lives of team members, and protects the leadership team from burnout, uncertainty, and the inevitable pitfalls of business, all for startup success. For more information about creating a vision for your startup, check out this Harvard Business Review article. Or, you can watch this video to see the difference between a mission and vision.
Action learning
The concept of Action Learning isn’t new. The methodology was initially developed as a method for personal learning. But it has been used to foster startup leadership as well. Students observe senior leaders in action, and work together with their peers and the organizations they’re in to develop a deeper understanding of how to lead. Today, there are many different types of Action Learning courses available.
Trust
Working at a startup is thrilling, yet unpredictable, and often stressful. The highs and lows of startup leadership are incredibly difficult to navigate, and it is no different for startup leaders. In this book, Anne Raimondi shows how to diagnose and heal trust rifts between co-founders. In her book, she shares her insights into the leadership styles of successful entrepreneurs and how these traits affect trust in startups. Read on for some of the top tips for effective startup leadership.
People skills
Startup leaders need people skills. While startups have a limited budget, they must make the most of those resources. As a leader, you must inspire the team to work for the purpose of the startup. By learning to be a good motivator, you can inspire your team to be loyal to the mission. Here are some tips for effective people skills. You may find them useful:
Resilience
Innovators must learn to balance their friends and foes. Sometimes enemies can be the most powerful motivators. They must learn to pick their battles and remain optimistic even in the face of challenges. The first step in building resilience in your startup leadership is to develop a commitment to your mission and priorities. If you procrastinate a meeting or focus on the negatives, it may be a sign that your startup leadership is not resilient.
