Starting a business is hard. But developing these leadership qualities will give you a chance of survival In addition to dealing with a million things on their plate at any given time, first-time business owners also need to learn to be managers for when their company starts growing—including all the leadership qualities that come with it.
Some people are born leaders. Guiding, inspiring and helping other people succeed is their forte without even lifting a pinky finger. They have a natural personality, intuition, and general gusto for it.
For others, being a leader is a land far less explored, and their personality isn’t naturally matched for the job.
However, not being a natural leader doesn’t mean you can’t be a leader.
When it comes to managing any number of people, there are so many variables involved that any “textbook” solution is probably going to let you down in the long run.
It’s a trial-and-error position, and all you can do is grasp the most important basics, and build your own style as you go.
Good leaders—CEOs, managers, founders, etc—have a set of skills and qualities just like any other job.
All you need to do is make yourself familiar with these characteristics, and you can start practicing as soon as you onboard your first employee.
Here is 5 most important leadership qualities that anyone in a management position should develop—and that are moldable to most situations you’ll face when in a leadership position:
- Vision and Purpose: Leaders should have a clear vision for the future and a roadmap for achieving success. They should be able to set goals and guide the team towards achieving them.
- Effective Communication: Successful leaders excel in effectively communicating with their teams. They should have the ability to express the vision and goals clearly, listen to the opinions and concerns of others, and exchange information and instructions in a comprehensible manner.
- Team Leadership: Leaders should have the ability to inspire and motivate their team members, develop their capabilities, and guide them towards achieving common goals. They should be able to build strong relationships, share responsibilities, encourage innovation, and solve problems.
- Self-Control and Decision-Making: Leaders should have the ability to maintain self-control and act consciously and confidently. They should be able to make tough decisions and face challenges with confidence and determination.
- Adaptability to Change: Successful leaders adapt to and effectively manage change. They should be able to adapt to market shifts, technological advancements, and external circumstances. They should be open to innovation and capable of motivating and guiding their team through periods of transition.
Soft skills like those we’ve mentioned in this post can seem like hardly a priority when you’ve got a business to run and money to make. Most of them can be seen as more of a reputation issue, and many people don’t think they have time for that.
However, you’re not practicing these skills to just be nice or be liked by people—that’s a brownie point. You’re practicing them because ultimately it will help you get better results from your team.
And, remember, that team—the people who are helping you get to your vision—are the real stars of the show. Without them, your dreams simply aren’t attainable.
The least you can do is try to be a better leader to them every single day.
