Four leadership skills that drive startup growth

Startups either have that “it” factor or they don’t, and some founders spend so much time trying to figure out exactly what that “it” factor actually is. They want to be successful, but when they follow the money they end up losing sight of their original mission. They want to be able to grow and scale quickly while creating an inclusive culture.

After working with hundreds of startups, I noticed something.

There are two kinds of CEOs: ones who leave their job because they’re sick of it and envision starting something new, and those with an MBA degree who want to build their own startup straight after that. Therefore, many startup CEOs struggle with people-centricity and what it really takes to orchestrate a team. Leadership is not taught in these areas, and many times the chemistry just doesn’t exist within the team itself. This can cause a business to fold.

It’s not easy to manage a team and ensure everyone is happy, but there are ways to help your company grow outside of the “hustle” and “task over humanity” approach. Here are some tips for startup founders to make an impact within their organization and ultimately become memorable leaders.

Focus on value

Providing value to your customers and your audience will take your company much further than trying to get them to check out your company through promotion. Most people don’t want to be bombarded with promos. Instead, they want something that is insightful or changes their perspective. They want something that will bring more awareness to them and what they’re doing. Money likes those who like what they do.

Get your team to think outside the box

We all have to get a lot of different tasks done, but what are you doing to help your team think better? It requires letting go of control, trusting your team and basically getting out of their way. When I was working in my first startup, my boss would follow me around like an ex who won’t let the relationship go. It made me feel nervous and I would drop everything to make him happy, which meant I wasn’t getting my actual work done. I realized this environment wasn’t for me. I felt like I was stuck in this box that didn’t allow me to spark my creativity and spread my wings. We could have done amazing things, but limited thinking got in the way. I eventually left and gained greater perspective. I wanted to work in a place that encouraged more freedom. Those are the kinds of places that spark the most creativity. Thus, I decided to advise startups that had a more flexible policy and watch them succeed.

Listen and actively ask questions

Throughout my experience with startups, I’ve run into many entrepreneurs who just simply want to give their two cents on everything. Unfortunately, this creates a roadblock for effective communication among a team because employees are not able to provide their opinions and feedback. Ultimately, the team could not even be listening to the speaker at all.

Listening is essential to effective communication. The art of listening is magical. It gives people a sense that you actually care about what they are saying. One of my mentors used to always tell me that, “If someone is nodding their head while you speak, they are not listening to you.” Everything is going in one ear and coming out the other. If you want to be an effective communicator, then you have to learn how to listen and ask first.

Encourage an entrepreneurial spirit

Think of an entrepreneurial spirit as the water that makes a plant grow. When I transitioned into the startup world, I left being CEO behind but I never lost my entrepreneurial spirit. I love pouring my whole heart and soul into my endeavors, so that came easily for me. And besides, the companies I worked with that came from an entrepreneurial background had more success than those that didn’t.

Adopting an entrepreneurial spirit means that you constantly keep the business’s best interests in mind. You act with confidence, knowing that if the company succeeds, so do you. We all want to be a part of something greater than ourselves; that’s why we are all entrepreneurs at heart. Companies that nurture this spirit will have a better chance at succeeding because they are developing a fully invested team that is committed to propelling the business forward.

Whether you’ve worked your up to a CEO position and are venturing out to create your own startup or you’re a recent graduate with an MBA eager to start your own company, juggling an entire team, fostering good company culture and being a lucrative leader is difficult but worth it.