How to be an inspirational start-up leader

How to be an inspirational leader

Great business leaders walk the walk.

They demonstrate leadership by their actions and activities rather than by talking.

Deeds matter, and good leaders behave how they want their team to act.

1. Personal responsibility

Leadership is anchored in taking responsibility for your actions rather than blaming others or situations.

This means owning outcomes, taking responsibility when things don't work out, and actively learning from mistakes and missteps.

Leaders are good at making decisions - even unpopular ones - and are willing to act selflessly and in the broader interests of the team.

2. Planning and insight

While some business leaders leap in feet first, it's often wiser to reach an insightful judgement based on data, research and evidence.

Good leaders will take time to plan growth and research markets and competitors rather than operate purely on instinct.

This can make sure the business is on a sound footing as it expands, with careful decision-making grounded in reality.

3. Support and empathy

Anticipating employee needs is a crucial trait of a good leader.

Rather than reacting to requests for support from staff, actively providing resources and tools to execute tasks effectively can boost productivity and engagement.

Take time to understand what your team needs to do their job, and actively listen to their challenges to find ways to support them.

4. Vision

Being able to see the big picture can help make sure your business stays on track rather than get bogged down in day-to-day activities.

But leadership isn't just about visionary ideas.

You'll need to develop skills in seeing the road ahead and translate that into the tasks, milestones and goals that your team can act upon.

5. Motivation

Unless you're working alongside an equally motivated business partner or your team has a stake in the business, working in your organisation is simply a job for most of your employees.

They may lack your passion and desire for the company to succeed.

As a leader, you'll need to recognise what motivates your team - from financial rewards and perks such as gym membership to increased responsibility or simply a well-earned 'thank you'.

6. Communication

Well-intentioned leadership and business goals can get lost in translation.

Good leaders focus on communication, making sure the people below them understand and act upon their plans and ideas.

They take time to clarify issues and change how they communicate depending on who they are talking to.

Communication is a two-way street.

Good leaders actively listen, investing time to hear what an employee or customer is actually saying.

7. Confidence and passion

Starting a business is hard work. In the early days, extended hours are often accompanied by scant reward.

There are many unknowns when launching a new business, and if you're not careful, uncertainty can abound.

When things are less certain, and the going is tough, good leaders dig deep with traits such as passion and confidence.

8. Personal traits

While you can learn many leadership skills, some are built on personal traits.

It can be a good idea to actively demonstrate positive characteristics such as:

• being open-minded when listening to ideas from employees
• being open and approachable
• remaining optimistic in challenging times

Employees are acutely aware of how you behave.

To avoid creating a negative culture in the workplace, demonstrate positivity, praise and accept mistakes and failures as part of growing a business.

Understanding that no-one is perfect and being flexible and supportive to your team can help improve engagement.