Leadership

From Entrepedia: The Entrepreneurship Wiki

Remember that more is involved in leadership than simply taking control. Everyone on your team is a team player and a coach at the same time: you will have to trust other people to help you when you need it, but you will also have to do the same for them. Keep in mind, too, that leadership can be very lonely. That is why you must be able to recognise, appreciate, and reward the people who support you - remember, you are not doing this all on your own, even if sometimes it may seem like it. There are people around you who are supporting you to help you succeed.

Another important leadership quality is the ability to see things from your teammates' perspectives. This will help you develop a notion of connectedness within your time. You will also need to join the dots (what brings you together), align with a vision (why are we doing this), and manage the relationships amongst the team. This connectedness is important, as leadership can frequently become wrapped up with the danger of obsession: beware this tendency. You need to be able to rely on other people to help you when you need it, and to do this you need to feel that you have a solid, trusting relationship with your team.

It is equally important to be able to respect your competitors, and to be able to listen closely to any source. Advice might come from the most unexpected places, and that includes the competition. As a leader you should never stop learning and evolving: it is up to you to provide for your team. You should bring empowerment, inspiration, and clarity to the team, and make sure to attend to every team member. Remember, your task as team leader is to unlock the talent in others: there is potential in everyone.

Leadership Tips

• You need double vision: focus on your dreams (what do I have to do to reach my dream) and milestones (what can I do right now to achieve this) at the same time
• "Conquer your own mountain": set your own goals, don't try to reach others' goals
• Choose a credo for leadership and teamwork
• You have to change your leadership style according to the team - the team drives your leadership style, not you force it upon the team!
• Don't be afraid to bring emotions to the table
• Remember: good leaders are optimists

Further Reading

• Kim Smith (New Schools Venture Fund): "Hybrid Leaders" in Stanford Entrepreneurial Thought Leader Speaker Series (video)

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