How can entrepreneurs develop strong leadership skills?
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— The LinkedIn Team
Entrepreneurs face many challenges and opportunities in their journey to create and grow their businesses. One of the most important skills they need to develop is leadership, which can help them inspire, motivate, and guide their teams, partners, and customers. But how can entrepreneurs develop strong leadership skills that suit their vision, values, and goals? Here are some tips to help you become a more effective and confident leader as an entrepreneur.
As an entrepreneur, you have a unique set of skills, talents, and passions that drive your business idea. However, you also have areas where you need to improve, learn, or delegate. To develop strong leadership skills, you need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses, and leverage them to your advantage. For example, if you are great at innovation, but struggle with organization, you can focus on creating new products or services, and hire someone who can help you with planning and execution.
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Jay Bal
I think we need a better understanding of what leadership is and means. In my humble opinion it is like a cult, inspiring people with a vision and confidence, building their confidence in the vision and you. It’s an extension of “pitching” but to different stakeholders, employees, partners and associates involved in delivery. They must want to go with you on a scary journey. Once you have done that give them freedom with supportive feedback. Leadership is the art of getting people to do what you want, willingly. For entrepreneurs this is a necessary skill as usually you are asking people to support you with less pay and stability for the fun of it! Reflection and observations are mechanisms you can use to move forward.
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Vwanganji Amatende-Bowa
Award winning CEO and Founder at Mighty Fin《》Womem in Tech 《》Gender Economist 《》 Finacial Inclusion 《》SMEs
Developing strong leadership skills as an entrepreneur is a journey of self-discovery and growth. It's about recognizing your own strengths and weaknesses, understanding what drives you, and learning how to connect with and inspire your team. Effective communication is not just about conveying information; it's about listening to your team's concerns and ideas. Building a team by recognizing and nurturing their potential, making them feel valued and motivated. Taking risks isn't just about making bold moves; it's about learning from failures and having the courage to keep moving forward. Ultimately, leadership is about being a role model, setting an example through your actions, and creating a culture of trust and collaboration.
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A key aspect of leadership is having a clear and compelling vision for your business, and communicating it effectively to your team, partners, and customers. Your vision should reflect your values, purpose, and goals, and show how you want to make a positive impact in the world. To communicate your vision and values, you need to use different channels, such as your website, social media, newsletters, presentations, or meetings. You also need to use stories, examples, and emotions to connect with your audience and inspire them to join you on your journey.
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Nataliya Kocheva
Lecturer in Operations and Project Management
I agree, but up to a point, because nowadays businesses exist in a constant uncertain environment that requires you and your team to be customer-centric and your business to have a purpose. Many businesses still make false claims and make false promises, then wonder why they lose market share and customers. Or they don’t grow….
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Alexandra McDermott, JD, MFA, EdD
The way this is written makes it seem like it comes from one side and is handed down, so to that extent I disagree. A vision is a future successful state of an organization and therefore, needs to be carefully crafted by key stakeholders of the business - the ones who show up and will actualize that vision on behalf of the organization. For each organization, the stakeholders involved may be different. But, without alignment, it is highly unlikely the organization will make it out of the survive phase.
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No entrepreneur can succeed alone. You need a team of people who share your vision and values, but also bring different perspectives, skills, and experiences to the table. To develop strong leadership skills, you need to build a diverse and supportive team that can complement your strengths, challenge your assumptions, and help you grow. You also need to empower your team members to take ownership, make decisions, and contribute their ideas. To do this, you need to provide them with clear expectations, feedback, recognition, and opportunities for learning and development.
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Dr. Elie Metri
Leading Digital Transformation, Advocating Entrepreneurship, Directing Organizations, Building The Future. CEO / QSS CO LTD.
To build a diverse and supportive team as an entrepreneur, actively seek varied perspectives in your hiring process, champion inclusive and flexible work policies, and foster an open culture where every voice is heard and valued. Lead by example, promoting collaboration and continuous learning, to create an environment where all team members can thrive and contribute to the business's success.
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Nataliya Kocheva
Lecturer in Operations and Project Management
Direct and clear feedback is essential to cut through the noise of such meaningless messages that often leave leaders / entrepreneurs in a blind spot. This keeps the team focused and builds trust.
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Entrepreneurs face many uncertainties and risks in their business ventures. Sometimes, things go wrong, or you receive negative feedback from your customers, investors, or mentors. Instead of seeing these as setbacks or threats, you can see them as opportunities to learn and improve. To develop strong leadership skills, you need to embrace feedback and failures as part of the process, and use them to refine your strategies, products, or services. You also need to be open to new ideas, perspectives, and solutions that can help you overcome challenges and achieve your goals.
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Dr. Elie Metri
Leading Digital Transformation, Advocating Entrepreneurship, Directing Organizations, Building The Future. CEO / QSS CO LTD.
As an entrepreneur, embracing feedback and learning from failures are pivotal for growth. Treat feedback as a goldmine of insights, encouraging it from all stakeholders, and listen actively. Analyze failures to understand root causes without assigning blame. Convert these lessons into actionable strategies to refine your business model, products, or services. Cultivate resilience and adaptability, and embed these learnings into the DNA of your venture, thus turning setbacks into stepping stones for innovation and success.
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Pius Binder
Founder Subscribed.FYI. Sold CraftOak.com @1M. X Product Growth at Canva and Meta.
My initial struggle to attract even a single customer, let alone a hundred, is a common hurdle. What's important is to not let failure deter you; it's a natural part of the entrepreneurial journey. Embrace each setback as a lesson, and meticulously note what works and what doesn't. Being open to asking for help is not a weakness but a strategic move. Welcome feedback and criticism—they are invaluable for growth. This mindset is not just about bouncing back but about using each experience to sharpen your business acumen and leadership.
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Leadership is not a fixed trait that you either have or don't have. It is a skill that you can develop and enhance throughout your life. As an entrepreneur, you need to invest in your personal growth, by seeking new knowledge, experiences, and opportunities that can help you expand your horizons, develop new skills, and discover new possibilities. You can also seek mentors, coaches, or peers who can support you, challenge you, and help you grow as a leader and as a person.
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Randy Crump
Engineering Workforce and Community Inclusion solutions
Be willing to learn new things and accepting of new ideas. No one person can know everything, so be willing to collaborate and learn from others.
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Dr. Elie Metri
Leading Digital Transformation, Advocating Entrepreneurship, Directing Organizations, Building The Future. CEO / QSS CO LTD.
Investing in your personal growth as an entrepreneur means committing to continuous learning and self-improvement. Delve into books, courses, and other educational resources relevant to your industry and leadership. Network with mentors and peers for diverse perspectives. Embrace new experiences and challenges that push you out of your comfort zone. Prioritize soft skills like communication, emotional intelligence, and strategic thinking. Reflect regularly on your successes and setbacks to understand your strengths and areas for development. Balancing professional expertise with personal well-being is also crucial, ensuring you have the stamina and clarity of mind needed for the entrepreneurial journey.
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The most effective way to develop strong leadership skills is to lead by example. As an entrepreneur, you are the role model for your team, partners, and customers. You need to demonstrate the qualities, behaviors, and values that you want to see in others. For example, if you want your team to be innovative, you need to be innovative yourself. If you want your customers to trust you, you need to be trustworthy yourself. By leading by example, you can create a positive and powerful impact on your business and your community.
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Lionel Haddad
Senior Ops Leader @ Amazon Eng.MSc.LSSBB | IRCA Lead Auditor | Leading through continuous improvement | Supply Chain || Disaster Management & CBRN expertise
Earn Trust, have bias for action and lead by example. Give ownership to your team, accept their failure and support them with corrective actions to achieve your long term goals rather than focusing on reactivity and immediate unstable results.
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Dr. Elie Metri
Leading Digital Transformation, Advocating Entrepreneurship, Directing Organizations, Building The Future. CEO / QSS CO LTD.
To develop strong leadership skills as an entrepreneur, consistently embody the qualities and values you wish to instill in your team. Being a role model in innovation, trustworthiness, and other key areas will inspire those around you and drive positive change within your business and community.
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Marcus Rountree, MBA, PMP
Senior Manager Product Management | Group Product Manager | Lead Product Manager
Entrepreneurs should identify their superpowers or strengths - their God-given talents that sets your apart. The Gallup Strength finder assessment is a great resource to find your strengths. Once you identify your strengths - FOCUS on making your strengths STRONGER. I learned this approach from John C. Maxwell - the Godfather of Leadership development - read his books! A few years ago…on a scale of 1-10 my coaching ability was a 7. I’ve recognized it as a strength, invested in my personal development - that strength is now a 10. As you demonstrate your abilities in your “strength zones” others begin to view you as a leader. Again - identify your strengths and make them stronger - this builds momentum for your leadership ability.
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Michael McKee
Most entrepreneurs that I know, are solo-prenuers. Besides working in their field of choice, becoming a civic volunteer in an organization, is an excellent way to show and learn leadership skills. It can come through Project Management (we're seeing projects for groups of volunteers), or by spearheading endeavors focused on the mission of the civic organization).
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