Tag: leadership

Is Leadership Really Important In A Workplace?

Leadership has a distinctive role to play in business. The leaders put in their inputs in business so that the business moves forward to chalk out development.

Contemporary business is steeped in multiple challenges. Sustainability in business is all the companies focus on. The ultimate objective of business is to gain profits and stay afloat in the competitive market. The role of leadership has become highly important in the workplace, and therefore you will hear about leadership everywhere.

When you talk about Microsoft, Google, and Tesla, you think about Bill Gates, Sundar Pichai, and Elon Musk. They are the greatest business leaders. You can understand why business leadership is important in the workplace as we delve deep into the subject here.

What Is Leadership?

Leadership is the accumulation of thoughts, ideas, behavior, and attitudes that help a business develop the skills to move forward in business. The leaders use these elements to make important decisions in business.

They are vigilant and look practically at the things that they find necessary. They constantly provide their inputs in business and work hard so that the business develops with time and fulfills the aspirations of the stakeholders directly and indirectly related to business.

Strong leadership is the backbone of business development. The main elements of leadership programmes include:

  • Effective Communication.
  • Knowing the People.
  • Knowing Yourself.
  • Seeking the Future.
  • Diplomacy

Does your business suffer from leadership development? This is an essential element of business development. Does your business suffer from leadership problems? You must go to seek leadership training in dubai. They are indeed effective for your business development.



The Role Of Leadership In Business Development

The one-liner answer to the question of leadership being really important in a workplace can be easily answered. Yes, leadership is not only important in business development but also helps companies stay competitive. Let’s try to understand the role of leadership in developing business.

1. Influence Employees

The leadership tries different ways to influence the employees. They explain to them the business’s mission, vision, and objective.

At the same time, they lead from the front and influence business decision-making. This is the way that you influence your employees. Employees are the lifeblood of an organization, and leaders need to guide them so that they reach the summit of economic success.

2. Solving The Internal Conflicts

You might have heard that when a company works towards a project, they try to understand the different ways through which things get mitigated. But the flow of business often needs to be improved during the planning stage.

In this stage, the leadership faces ego issues. Eventually, the project failed the deadline. Competent leaders are always visionary; they know how to bring order when mitigating differences.

3. Motivation

The output of a company depends on motivated employees. Therefore the management makes different decisions to keep the employees motivated. But the ultimate work is done by the leadership.

They chalk out planning to keep the motivation levels high. The leadership provides speeches to pump up motivation. Apart from this, they also encourage training and development and work continuously to motivate the employees. Awards rewards also play a part in motivating employees.

4. Increasing The Productivity

Increasing productivity is one of the main things when attaining the company’s objectives. Productivity depends on factors. It is the leaders who do all the planning so that the employees keep motivated. They bring in technology that works to increase the productivity of the organization.

The leaders are great motivators, and they know exactly what to add to increase the organization’s productivity. The team leaders discuss the important aspect of the development and make unanimous decisions on the acquisitions and productivity.

5. Better Decision Making

We all know about the iPhone, launched by iPhone. The product went through questions. The leaders raised questions about the development of the product. But the management made all to launch the product, and the rest is history.

The success of an organization depends on better decision-making. The leadership gives its all and ensures the organization makes the best decision for the company’s sake.

Closing The Discussion

There is no doubt about the fact that decision-making plays an important role in the development of an organization. Leadership inputs play a part so that the organization emerges victorious and stays floating in the contemporary market. We hope you have understood how valuable leadership is for your business.



Investing In A Business Coach: Is It Worth It?

Business coaching for senior and top management is something most companies are doing. But there has always been a question about its worthiness.

All businesses need to evolve to ensure that growth is not stalled. One of the many ways modern-day businesses try to maximize their growth is by improving the skills of their team. Business coaching for senior and top management is something most companies are doing. But there has always been a question about its worthiness.

What Is A Business Coach? 

A business coach is a person who by experience or qualification can help understand certain nuances of business and personal traits that can help expand the business. You can expect them to help you understand how to keep your team motivated as well as how to engage clients and acquire new ones. Business coaches work in collaboration with business owners to enable them to improve their skills so that they can make better business decisions.

You can compare it to a sports coach, the athlete may be talented but needs guidance to improve and also build skills to perform at higher levels. The coach will help him achieve his goals by constant suggestions based on observations.

How Can A Business Coach Help? 

There are multiple ways in which a business coach can help you. All things may not be directly related to the business because personal improvement also impacts your business on large scale. Here are some ways in which you can get help from a professional coach.

Bring An Outside Perspective To Your Business

Most people within the business are not able to see certain things that are obvious to an outsider. With a business coach, you will get a third-party view and an unbiased neutral opinions on certain aspects of your business.

Goal Setting & Expectations 

Sometimes, people have wrong expectations or set goals that are just unattainable or too easy. In either of the cases, the business suffers. With an experienced business coach, you will get help to understand how you should create the right goals and set valid expectations within the company as well as with the clients.



Delegation 

This is one of the biggest issues with many SMEs. The delegation of work and power is not balanced. It leads to inconsistency in performance as well as a feeling of discontent. It can have a negative impact on the employees and clients too. To be successful, the leaders in the organization need to understand how to delegate the work and responsibilities in a way that people feel accountable and important.

Identifying Prospective Leaders 

Leadership is the pillar for a business to grow well. While you have a current set of leadership teams, it is always important to identify leaders for the future, with business coaches you can discuss your opinions on your team, and you can get good insights on candidates who have the potential to be future leaders within the organization.

A Guide For The Owner 

Many times, founders and owners need someone to share their thoughts and ideas with. Someone who can walk in their shoes and can guide them on what can be the consequences of certain actions. The business coach is a great guide for the owner to facilitate decision-making.

Is There Evidence Of Improvement? 

The proof is always in the pudding, there have been multiple studies conducted to study the impact of business coaches on the performance of individuals and the company. More than 50% of leaders and business owners believe that they have seen improvement in productivity and job satisfaction with the help of a business coach. Most of the fortune 500 companies have business coaches helping the senior management and there have been a lot of iconic founders/businessmen who have endorsed the use of these services.

Looking at the data and the various anecdotes presented by people who have used business coaches, it will be safe to say that you definitely get great value and support when you hire a coach for your business.



What are the Makings of an Effective Leadership Coach?

Leadership training is the deliberate process of cultivating an individual’s strengths and competencies to collaborate more successfully with others.

Leadership training is the deliberate process of cultivating an individual’s strengths and competencies to collaborate more successfully with others. Effective business coaching, communication skills, and recognizing the effects of diverse leadership styles are all common topics in leadership training.

Mentoring connections or a more established executive coaching program are common for these coaching encounters. But where do you look for an ideal program and a leadership coach India? Opt for a training course that possesses all six of the traits listed below:

An environment that is both safe and supportive

According to the International Coaching Federation, coaching is defined as “partnering with individuals in a creative and thought-provoking process that motivates them to achieve their professional and personal potential,” according to the International Coaching Federation.

It’s vital to find a coach who is a good fit for you and helps you achieve your goals. If you like being able to relax and open up to someone, you must feel comfortable being vulnerable with them. Coaches and students don’t always get along.

It’s fine to go on if, after some coaching sessions, you still don’t think that it’s a good fit. A clash in personality, coaching style, or even timetable could be the cause. The development of an effective coaching relationship necessitates rapport and comfort.

Assists you in achieving your goals

You, not the coach, are the authority on yourself. Look for a program and a coach who doesn’t have their definition of success for you. Knowing what you need from coaching will help you find the greatest fit for you and help you achieve your goals.

Move on to a different development program or coach if a coach tries to sell you on their plan based on their own experiences or what works best for them.



Provides detailed and focused feedback

Some of the most effective leadership trainers can operate as mirrors. They reflect on what they see and hear back to the group, raising awareness, and are loving and nonjudgmental. This allows you to identify your weak spots and go forwards with identifying effective remedies.

Instead of letting you vent without advancing towards your goals, look for a coach and a coaching program eager to do the hard work with you.

Duration of the relationship

The majority of coaching programs last between three and twelve months. Recent data reveals that substantial and sustained growth takes at least six months. Beyond that, the optimum timeframe will be determined by the objectives you want to accomplish and the amount of time you have to devote to them.

Consistency is essential

Look for a leadership coach in India who will meet with you weekly or biweekly, especially when you first start working together. It’s critical to maintain consistency as you go towards your objectives. You’ll need a dependable coach and program who will turn up and hold you responsible regularly. Your chances of attaining your intended result are greatly reduced if you lack consistency.

They keep you on the right track with equipment and ensure you’re getting the most out of them.

Many programs and coaches provide resources and methodologies to help with coaching. While one is not inherently superior to the other, you need a coach and a programme that will hold you responsible and provide you with tools to help you reach your maximum potential if they have to measure tools to track your development during the coaching process.

Fostering leaders is among the most critical things you could do to ensure your company’s success. Leaders aren’t born, and they’re certainly not made. They’re created via deliberate effort, assistance, and feedback. Leadership coaching’s a tremendous tool for investing in the health and development of your most valuable resource.



What are the top leadership skills that make a great leader?

In any workplace, be it a local firm or a world-famous organization, having a great leader is very important.

In any workplace, be it a local firm or a world-famous organization, having a great leader is very important. However, no one is a born leader. With proper training, experience, and development, people can gather skills to shape organizations and committees. Hence, leadership development is significant for shaping the leaders of the future.

Top Skills That Constitute a Leader

Some of the primary skills that are required for leadership are given below.

Integrity

Integrity entails having strong morals and ethical principles. If a leader doesn’t have integrity, he or she won’t be able to lead others. The reason is simple, it is a significant factor when making important decisions that influence the future of the organization. With integrity, taking proper decisions become relatively easy.

Delegation Ability

A good leader should also be able to delegate appropriately. With proper delegation, reports can be approved, teamwork can be facilitated, and autonomy can be initiated. This will directly help in growing the reports. The leader should have trust in the team for delegation.

Communication Ability

In any leadership development camp, extra emphasis is given to communication. A leader can go nowhere if the communication between him and the rest of the team is restrictive. A leader should be able to communicate to express his thoughts correctly freely. At the same time, he should be able to understand exactly what his teammates are conveying.



Self-Awareness

A leader who isn’t self-aware can never be a good leader. Without evaluating yourself, you cannot strengthen your weaknesses and polish your strengths. To be more effective, a leader needs to understand himself first.

Showing Gratitude

Showing gratitude is one of the primary traits that any good leader should have. You can be extremely strict about making sure your employees are working as they should. However, it is also your job as a leader to thank them for their hard work. This will make the employees want to work, as their efforts are recognized.

Agility in Learning

Even a good leader may not know what to do in some unforeseen situations. What makes good leaders stand out from other leaders is how quickly they will learn what to do. Anyone who can manage unfamiliar situations simply after quick learning or will be a great leader.



Having Influence

Great leaders should also have their influence. This doesn’t necessarily mean manipulation. However, a leader should convince others of a theory or idea with emotional and logical appeals backed with facts. With intelligence, leaders can create an influence that the rest of the team can feel and trust.

Having Empathy

To be a great leader, showing empathy based on the results and performances is a must. The workplace condition improves by a lot, and team members can get the emotional support they need. By showing empathy correctly, the entire performance of the team can be increased by leaps and bounds.

Courageous

Another must-have skill that is a part of leadership development includes having courage. A good leader should never be afraid of trying something new, taking problems head-on, reporting problems, or discussing sensitive issues with the team members. If a leader cannot show courage, the rest will not have any actual progress anywhere.

Showing Respect

Finally, a great leader should always respect his teammates and co-workers, irrespective of the situation. Even on negative performances, disrespecting a person should never be the option. This can keep tensions apart in the workplace and gather trust and positive energy for working.

Final Words

A person who isn’t a good leader now can become a great leader in the future. It all comes down to having these skills to be able to lead others. With practice, endurance, dedication, and training, it is possible to form good leaders who can shape the future, no matter where they work.



16 Leadership lessons from MS Dhoni for startups, entrepreneurs and managers

Dhoni’s leadership style offers invaluable lessons to managers/entrepreneurs at all levels. Here’s why.

MS Dhoni, India’s most successful cricket captain, is well on his way to be regarded as one of the greatest leaders the game has seen. In the past, people have attributed his success to luck, timing, good fortune and the like. But on closer analysis of his success, we see a clear pattern emerging.

Dhoni’s leadership style offers invaluable lessons to managers/entrepreneurs at all levels. Here’s why:

1. Gets Shit Done

Dhoni is great at delegating but when faced with pressure situations, he led by example. For example, take the case of promoting himself in the batting order in the World Cup final versus Sri Lanka.

2. Strategic Thinker

Dhoni makes plans before they are required. He always has a plan and knows the strengths and weaknesses of his troop as well as his opponents more than the opponent knows themselves. Remember the time he told Robin Uthappa to bowl during the bowl-out in T20 final against Pakistan? He had seen Uthappa repeatedly hit the stumps in the nets.

3. Right Ambition

He has no personal ambitions. He does not care about being the best batsman or the best wicketkeeper. He enables his team to become those, caring only for the success of the team. I remember a time when he got nicked off at 99 and the bowler asked him if there was a nick and he said, “Yes” He plays for something bigger than himself.

4. Courage & Instinct

Dhoni has the courage that is needed to take risks with partial information. He calculates and plans, but sticks to his guns if he believes it’s the right thing to do for India. For instance, take Rohit Sharma’s case – he was out of form but Dhoni believed in his calibre when the country was making fun of his decisions.

5. Manages His Psychology Well

How easy would it be for Dhoni to lose his cool? Billions watching his every move and a billion hearts expecting India to win. His most redeeming quality is his calm, when faced with a mountain of pressure. If you’re an entrepreneur, managing your own head is the toughest thing to do, and Dhoni does it really well.



6. Uninhibited style

Hailing from a humble background, Dhoni never let this aspect hinder his style or behaviour. In fact, he managed to channelise this raw rustic energy to his on-field performances.

He was never shy of expressing himself in any given situation. In a competitive world, you are often judged by your past or stereotyped and it is important to maintain a positive ego at all times.

7. Managing egos

In a hierarchyled environment, Dhoni was catapulted to captaincy ahead of several established players in a team laden with stars and former captains.

He took his time and didn’t interfere in their proven methods and managed to extract the best out of these stars at most times without ruffling feathers. Many young managers who inherit legacy organisations face this challenge at the workplace.

8. Change management

Dhoni did not rush through with change in personnel and team culture. He first established his credibility and over time dealt with these issues and managed the transition through the process of natural attrition and performance management.

Most CEOs confronted with change management issues at the workplace will do well to take a leaf out of MSD’s book and not take the “bull in a china shop” approach while dealing with change.

9. Managing success

Dhoni dealt with his early success with a lot of maturity with his feet firmly on the ground, which eventually led to his elevation. It requires a great degree of level headedness and humility to handle fame and money at an early age.

In a corporate context, early success need not lead to brash behaviour towards colleagues and customers. We have seen that, at times, young managers who see success early lose their balance and face early career burnouts.

10. Managing pressure

Ability to stay calm and keep his cool with a seemingly uncluttered mind is Dhoni’s greatest gift as a leader. This soothes the nerves of the rest of the team and ensures that they stay focused and continue to believe in themselves.

Dhoni is a lesson for all leaders in terms of their ability to manage extremely stressful work environments. Managing periods of high stress without losing your composure is the key to long-term success and good health.



11. Focus

Dhoni has immense ability to insulate himself from the surrounding environment and continue to focus on the job. The current Champions Trophy campaign is a case in point in the wake of the IPL controversy.

In a corporate context, it is vital for managers to stay positive and focus on the task at hand and avoid distractions and negative energies in play at the workplace.

12. Instinct

There are occasions when managers forget the ‘gut factor’ in decision making when confronted with data. Dhoni has often followed his instinct and on most occasions has been proved right.

At the recently concluded Champions Trophy final against England, while data would have dictated that he choose Umesh Yadav to bowl one more over, he chose Ishant Sharma for the crucial over which turned the match for India.

13. Managing failure

After the heady success of the World Cup 2011, it was just downhill for Dhoni and his team. After a string of embarrassing losses, it required great character and attitude to bounce back.

He did this in style and answered all his critics with the sheer weight of his performance once again. At the workplace, failure has to be dealt with the same fashion as success and one has to continue to be focused on the job at hand.

14. Invokes respect in the rivals

By his mere presence, calmness and body language Dhoni invokes great respect and fear in the opposition camp.

In a work environment, it takes a great deal to be respected by competition who would be itching to have you on the other side of the fence. This comes through sheer performance and acknowledgement from your internal and external stakeholders.

15. Backs his people

He places immense trust on his people and backs them to deliver. This allows them to express themselves freely without the fear of failure.

At the workplace, team members reciprocate and feel a sense of responsibility based on the trust shown by their leaders on them.

16. Versatile

Dhoni is hands on, is versatile and can adapt to any situation. He plays all the three formats of the game, can bat in any position, keep wickets and can roll his arm over if required. Versatility and adaptability is the key for long-term success for executives.

As a leader Dhoni is aware that the spotlight is on him but he never hogs the limelight. He keeps a check on his emotions all the time both in victory and defeat. He still has lot of cricket left in him and perhaps, for us, there are more lessons to learn from him.



How to become a better leader: 8 Great tips to know

Are you trying to learn how to become a better leader? If yes, you should check out some of our best tips by clicking right here.

More than 53 percent of the American workforce is currently unhappy at their jobs.

While the reasons run the gambit, that unhappiness often comes down to dissatisfaction with their managers and leadership team.

Becoming a better leader for your employees is essential for your company’s growth. Unfortunately, finding ways to improve isn’t always easy.

If you’re wondering how to become a better leader, don’t despair. Check out these great tips and start implementing them immediately.

Be Involved Every Day

Great leaders are good at what they do because they understand the why behind every action and decision. You need to understand your business’s mission, values, and needs every step of the way.

When you know what your company’s goals are, you’re better prepared to outline the necessary steps to reach those goals.

For most leaders, this means working alongside their teams, identifying challenges and strengths every day, and finding ways to implement changes quickly. If you distance yourself from the day-to-day operations, you won’t be able to keep up with your company’s changing needs.

Lead By Example

Bosses can give orders, but employees aren’t always inclined to follow them if they don’t see how those orders will impact the company. This is especially true of the boss doesn’t get out of their office and show them why it’s important to take care of those tasks.

Great leaders lead by example. When you show your team what you want them to do and actively encourage them every day, your team will find it easier to maintain productivity and complete things on time.

Even better, they’ll see you as someone they can depend on rather than just someone who bosses them around.

Encourage Creativity and Innovation

The most innovative ideas often come from the people working the front lines, not the management team. Use this to your advantage and actively encourage your employees to be creative.

When they feel that you value and ask for their input, they’ll be more willing to share their ideas which only helps your company grow.

You may even see an increase in retention and employee satisfaction. Remember, when employees feel that the leadership team cares about them and values their opinions, they’ll be more likely to stay with the company.

Invest in Their Needs

Your team needs the right resources to be able to get their jobs done well. Instead of asking them to provide their own equipment or office accessories, take the time to invest in those items for them.

Invest in products that make their jobs easier and improve the quality of their life at work. This means buying ergonomic office furniture, providing them with break rooms that help them relax, and paying attention to their requests.

Keep in mind that those needs will change over time. As long as you do your best to accommodate those needs, you’ll show that you’re a leader who cares.

Don’t Over-Supervise

No one likes to work in an environment where they feel that every move they make is under scrutiny. The best way to be a better leader is to show your employees that you trust them by not supervising everything they do.

Have faith that they know what they’re doing and will complete tasks to company standards without someone standing over their shoulder.

Just make sure to communicate to them that you’re always available for guidance or advice. If you have a private office, keep the door open whenever possible so your team can talk to you as needed.

Recognize Great Work

According to the team at slonepartners.com, recognizing your employees’ effort and quality work is essential. That recognition can be something as simple as saying “good job” or thanking them for taking care of certain tasks quickly.

Great leaders always express appreciation for their team’s work. After all, without them, you wouldn’t have the company you do.

It’s also a good idea to consider formal recognition of outstanding work at least once a year. Again, this can be something simple, but offering bonuses and awards can encourage your team to continue their great work.

Don’t Stop Improving

When things are going well and you feel secure in your leadership style, it’s easy to get complacent. When you do, the business stagnates and employees won’t feel the need to come up with new ideas and ways to improve the operation.

Instead of accepting things as they are, constantly look for ways to improve. This ties right back into leading by example. When you’re actively looking for ways to improve, your team will follow suit.

Be Positive Whenever Possible

As a leader, you can set the tone for the company. When you’re feeling down or discouraged, your team will pick up on those emotions.

Often, this negatively impacts their productivity and can halt progress before it ever has a chance to get started.

Try to be mindful of the mood you’re showing around your team. If you feel down, look for ways to stay positive while you’re at work.

That doesn’t mean you have to be happy all the time. Instead, try to focus on the things that are going right and don’t take your emotions out on your team. The key to being a good leader is being able to separate your personal life from your work life.

Understanding How to Become a Better Leader Takes Time

Wondering how to become a better leader is the first step on the journey. It shows that you care about your team, your company, and your professional reputation.

These tips should help you hone your leadership skills and become the mentor your team can look up to.

Looking for more insight on becoming a more effective leader and communicator? Check out our latest posts.

Leadership and Motivation in business: 4 Factors that can be decisive for good leadership

In the business world, leadership and motivation have been subjects that have attracted the attention of many entrepreneurs over the years.

In the business world, leadership and motivation have been subjects that have attracted the attention of many entrepreneurs over the years.

This is mainly because most organizations realize that it is not just a good salary that motivates people and enables them to work for the company’s growth, but also their aspirations.

The search for employee engagement in the company through motivation is strongly linked to the concept of leadership that places the company’s employees as key elements for the achievement of the organization’s goals.

Thus, keeping all employees of the firm in a good state of motivation becomes vital for the organization’s survival, since if the established goals are not met with excellence, the company’s growth will be compromised.

Thus, the motivation process must be considered by the company, especially regarding the relationship between leadership and motivation in business.

Since to motivate the teams, the leadership of the firm must also be involved, because it is the leaders who with their influence impact the workers, acting in a way as “motivating agents”.

Decisive Factors for Good Leadership

There are characteristics that every great leader presents, so it is necessary that the management of any company also seeks to acquire these strengths to have good leadership.

Due to the importance of these characteristics, they are even decisive factors for good leadership, and therefore must be known.

KNOWLEDGE

If you have a quality not lacking in great leaders, it is the frequent search for new knowledge to improve your leadership and administrative skills. So no matter what your current position as a leader, you should never forget to study more and more.

It is essential that the leader has in his diploma specializations and MBA’s in the management area – it can be Business or Project Management.

Such knowledge is necessary because much of a manager’s qualities, for example, are critical in any leader who wants to effectively manage teams and projects.

Not only do you have high qualification courses, but you can also choose to take additional courses, as they are perfect for acquiring important qualities in shaping the image of a good leader, such as the communication and speaking course.

Another tip on how to gain knowledge to enable good leadership in the business, as well as motivation that is worth applying, is participation in lectures and short-term training programs, as they also enable the acquisition of knowledge that helps in achieving a good leadership.

Knowledge of study is critical to building leadership that makes the business successful, so be sure to adhere to every training opportunity you have (With Prioritization, of course!).

INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP

Managing the relationship established between the leader and employees is a key factor in leadership.

The development of healthy relationships in the workplace allows the created collaboration space to be psychologically alternative. In this kind of environment, even if distrust, fears, and conflicts arise, they can be accepted and worked on by both actors.

However, it will only be possible to form this environment and be able to achieve optimal interpersonal relationship management if you can create a climate of mutual trust, the experts at https://pollackpeacebuilding.com/ suggest.

As a member of the interpersonal relationship that has the responsibility of uniting team members and enabling good work, the leader should serve as a motivator and connector for employees.

At this point, you see a lot of what is the relationship between leadership and motivation in business, since as we saw earlier, motivation is one of the elements that can not lack in leadership.

Going deeper into this issue of interpersonal relationships, it will also be necessary for the leader to take care that the personal lives of team members do not interfere with the execution of their tasks in the company.

LISTEN TO EMPLOYEES

There is no better way to improve leadership and effectively motivate employees other than by listening to them for their needs.

Knowing the needs of the employees also enables the leader to be able to synchronize these wants with those of the company, thus generating benefits for both parties.

Although this is a very important point in leadership, unfortunately, many ignore it. Very few companies have a consistent channel that allows them to communicate with employees through which they can meet the real needs of their employees.

By listening to workers, the company can also benefit from suggestions, new ideas, and listening to complaints that may lead to the discovery of failures and their correction before they cause harm.

UNDERSTAND BUSINESS DEEP

Although it seems obvious, many leaders often fail their leadership because they do not understand very well how their business works.

This disregard, as to the need to know the business model in-depth, is due in part to the fact that many entrepreneurs or leaders take this need as unnecessary because they have the idea that they already know everything about the type of business.

Knowing the line of products/services and the method that is used during its manufacture counts a lot when it comes to leadership and motivation of employees, because at times, customers and even the team itself may need clarification.

However, in case of inconsistency in the response, those who were previously motivated by the leader may gradually lose their confidence in him, and may no longer see him as a source of motivation by example, especially if this type of situation recurs.

So, don’t waste your time and check to see if all the good leadership characteristics mentioned in this post are noticeable in your company’s leaders. If not, start cultivating them as they are the key to success in teamwork. So that’s it, these factors are decisive for good leadership and business motivation.

Why do startup entrepreneurs need coaching?

Leadership is an essential function of management that connects internal and external stakeholders.

One-fifth of the small businesses fail in their first year. This accounts for almost 20% of the industry. Common reasons contributing to the failure of these startups include lack of funding or capital, unsuccessful marketing efforts, faulty business models, and inadequate leadership.

Leadership is an essential function of management that connects internal and external stakeholders. Influential leaders can help businesses enhance productivity and maximize efficiency to achieve business goals.

One of the best ways to develop leadership is by hiring a startup CEO coach. A reliable startup CEO coach is responsible for supporting business founders in their personal and professional growth.

These individuals are usually industry experts that have sufficient knowledge to help startup CEOs take bold risks to accomplish something great. Here are the reasons why every entrepreneur can use a startup CEO coach like Brett J. Fox.

They Put You on Track

Startup founders are energetic and consider themselves as the Jacks of all trades. However, every entrepreneur has strengths and weaknesses and knowing each one of them can help further your business into greater heights.

A startup CEO coach will help you recognize and concentrate on the most critical aspects of the business. This helps you point out your blind spots and catch the big picture so that you will not limit the success of your business.

They also help you create clear and specific goals so that you can develop an innovative strategic direction that can adjust to evolving trends. Ongoing training with CEO coaches will keep you on the right path in the continually changing business environment.

CEO Coaches Bring a Competitive Edge

A competitive edge distinguishes a business from its competitors. It results in more customers, higher prices, and brand loyalty.

However, establishing such an advantage is challenging with the lack of differentiation and the rise of unique types of competition. A CEO coach will ease out the process by helping your brand advance at a quicker pace and ensure that you differentiate yourself from the crowd.

The biggest challenge among business owners is making themselves stand out. You want to have a product that everyone is buying, but you also need to achieve a share of the market to protrude.

A CEO coach can see your business strengths and weaknesses better than you can and will help you market yourself in a manner that makes those differences pooch in your market. Coaches can also ensure that you are showing your abilities to your best advantage.

Enhance Your Personal Growth

CEO coaches are here to help you grow both executively and personally. They can develop an interactive environment for you to see yourself clearly so that you can meet unique challenges every step of the way.

The most significant risk to the success of most businesses is not usually the state of the market, competition, or even the economy. Instead, it is the thought and behavioral changes of startup leaders.

Coaches can also identify your thoughts and behavioral patterns that are slowing and preventing the growth of your business. They help you deal with those particular issues so that it can no longer bring adverse effects to your business.

Building a successful business does not happen overnight. Having someone experienced enough to provide advice and encouragement will help you reach business goals quicker.

When your boss gets afraid of your leadership skills, hone them more

It is unfortunate when you end up with such a boss.

There are tell-tale signs when your boss is afraid of you. He frequently ignores you or often fails to respond. He shoots down most of your ideas or steals them as his own. He restricts your interaction with others by giving you low-level impact jobs and prevents you from communicating with other units.

It is unfortunate when you end up with such a boss. Don’t engage in any head-on conflict with the boss. Instead, continue doing your job well, hone your soft skills, and continue leading from your confines.

Leadership Skills Can Be Learned

Like other soft skills, Leadership Skills can be learned and developed.

The main difference between hard and soft skills is the ease of measuring the skill level. You can measure the typing speed in words per minute, but it is more difficult to quantify his commitment and motivation.

A massive list of soft skills will help you determine which you may want to hone and develop. The common types needed in the workplace include collaboration, communication, problem-solving, time management, and leadership skills. The abundance of soft skill coaches and their proliferation in the web attest to their learnability.

The soft skills for leadership would include the following:

• Motivation – inspiring and influencing others
• Trustworthiness – truthfulness and doing what they promised
• Goal-setting – developing and achieving goals
• Commitment – dedication and focus to goals and objectives

In as much as soft skills are also called interpersonal skills or relationship skills, learning and developing them is best done working with others.

There is a Talent Gap for Leadership Skills

Leadership skills are needed in the workplace but can also be used in life outside work. Leadership is practiced at all levels of an organization and in all social units.

Deloitte University is part of a global company that focuses on trends in human capital and leadership. A study conducted by Adam Canwell for Deloitte points to the lack of leaders as the primary talent gap worldwide.

Eighty-six percent (86%) of the respondent organizations rates this issue as urgent or important. Only 13% answered that their organization is doing an excellent job in leadership development.

Start Leading From the Inside

It is time for employees to build upon their leadership skills, even if their current bosses get afraid of them. Most organizations, including the military, spend a lot to develop leaders from among their team members. Some trainees and some of the top echelon of the organization may not be fit to be in their position. The boss who is afraid of you may be one of them.

Many resources are available for aspiring employees with leadership potential to further their careers. Even if the boss has restricted your working space and peer circle, no one works alone. Within your limited circle, you can still sharpen your leadership and other interpersonal skills.

Outside of work, we are also part of the community, a church group, or a civic club. We always have other people around us to practice and enhance our leadership skills.

9 Powerful Tips To Help You Become A Better Leader In Just 30 Days

Being a leader is not easy.

Being a leader is not easy. Leaders have to take care of people, treating them respectfully as they help them work towards goals. Leaders also have to represent their organizations without being offensive. Leaders also need to be able to communicate clearly. They need to set guidelines and follow guidelines. Leaders also need to be able to work with the media in all forms – print, digital, and social.

With all of these responsibilities and more, it is no surprise that leaders are often overwhelmed, especially new leaders. Fortunately, there are plenty of resources that can help you become a better leader in 30 days.

1. Leave your office

Leaders work with people, so leaders need to know their people. All too often, leaders stay holed up in their offices and let their administrative assistants do the communicating for them. If you never leave your office, it is time to start. The best way to do this is to set your schedule with activities out of the office.

2. Get to know your people

As you build your schedule to leave your office, include getting to know people on that schedule. Pick one or two people each day to talk to – really talk to face-to-face in a comfortable space. You are not interviewing these people – that’s how they got into your organization. You are talking to them about their work and their lives. You can start by asking questions about work, then let them talk, which leads to the next step.



3. Listen to your people

The best way to get to know your people is to listen to your people. Let them talk. Don’t judge what they are saying, just actively listen. When it is time to ask a new question, ask. When your people ask you questions, answer them.

The best leaders listen. By doing this, they know what their people need and they can work on providing their necessities. By listening to people on the front line, leaders can learn about what is actually going on in the organization rather than just assuming they know. Principals should listen to teachers. CEOs should listen to their salespeople. Office managers should listen to their front-desk employees.

4. Attend a leadership conference

Even if you have attended one in the past, there is nothing wrong with finding one to attend in the present. The roles of leaders are constantly evolving and so are the topics at leadership conferences. Go with an open mind as you never know what tidbits of information you can bring back to your organization. There are plenty of websites to visit for more information about events near you.



5. Give employees autonomy

Good leaders hire the best people, so they can also give those people autonomy at work. There is no reason to look over the shoulders of your employees. Simply by hiring them, you have already told them that you believe they can do the work. When you look over their shoulders and check on every little thing they do, you take away their beliefs in themselves and you make them feel as if they are not trusted. If you continue to look over the shoulders of your employees, you should not be surprised if they decide to look for work elsewhere. Give your people the autonomy they deserve, so they can do the work you hired them to do.

6. Stop micromanaging

No one likes to be micromanaged. It reduces trust and breaks up teams. Your employees will learn exactly the opposite of what you want them to learn. When you micromanage, your employees will not know what to do independently. They will come to you with every little problem and you will get tired of it.

Instead, when you stop micromanaging, your employees will have to the autonomy to solve problems on their own. They will be happier because they will like they are valued because you trust them. They will want to stay in your organization because they are not micromanaged.



7. Provide feedback

Employees appreciate feedback, especially when that feedback is useful rather than judgmental. Yes, people like to know when they are doing a good job, but saying “good job” to an employees doesn’t tell them what they are doing well. The more specific you can get, the more it will help your employees. It is also helpful to provide feedback privately, and face-to-face in a relaxed, neutral space. No matter what feedback you give, it is nice to let your employees know that you appreciate them, especially if you can say it to each one of them, personally.

8. Set goals

Leaders should set goals for their people. Those goals need to be realistic and attainable. For example, if you want every employee to cold call five people each day, that is realistic and attainable. If you want them to reach the goals, you will need to give them the resources that they need. You will also need to give them a place to record the steps they take to reach their goals.

The best leaders include their employees in creating the goals. They know what they can do and will help set realistic goals that they can achieve. In many cases, employees set bigger goals for themselves than you would set for them. So, be sure that they understand what you want from them and whether their goals are too big. Your employees will appreciate that you listen to them when you involve them in goal-setting.

9. Understand intentions

Employees will make mistakes and in most cases, those mistakes come with good intentions. Instead of reacting with anger and frustration, the best response is to talk to your employee and listen to the situation. Humans are not perfect and your employees will see you as a strong leader if you listen to them and respect their humanity rather than yelling and screaming when things do not go perfectly. When you treat your employees like people, they will deliver and your organization will benefit.





10 things successful leaders or entrepreneurs never say

Along with the words, the style of speaking and the tone also defines a great entrepreneurial leader.

For a budding or even a seasoned entrepreneur, communication is absolutely necessary. Communication is what he needs to focus on majorly because half his job depends on it. Communicating with team members, talking to VCs and setting up deals with vendors is not exactly easy. The words that they use while communicating are important because they leave an impression. Along with the words, the style of speaking and the tone also defines a great entrepreneurial leader.

Here are ten things successful leaders or entrepreneurs never say

“IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCOMPLISH.”

If an entrepreneur says this, it is a mark of disbelief and distrust on his employees. If an employee’s idea seems brilliant but far-fetched and could benefit the company, an entrepreneur will go to any lengths to make it work. Leaders need to believe in their team and that’s how they open doors to newer and better ideas.

“WE DON’T NEED NEW IDEAS.”

This is a phrase you’ll never hear successful entrepreneurs say as the settled ones are always looking for new inspiration for their venture. They are often looking for ideas to either expand their business or venture into a new market totally. Also, the successful entrepreneurs are open to any idea that will promote efficiency at a lower cost. With evolving markets, leaders are on a hunt for new ideas and people who can provide them.



“I DON’T CARE.”

This is the most demotivating sentence a leader can say to his team. This loosely translates to “I don’t have an opinion”. However, great leaders always have an opinion. If they like an idea, they praise the employee who suggested it and tries to make it work and if they think an idea isn’t workable, they explain it to the team why it won’t work. But, the lack of feedback reflects the lack of good leadership skills. No matter how trivial a suggestion might seem, leaders always need to have a take on it.

“IT’S NOT PERSONAL, IT’S BUSINESS.”

Good leaders are aware of the fact that it is always personal since you are uttering these words to a person with whom your relationship is at stake. Leaders are also aware that the key to building a great team is creating great professional and to some extent personal relations with the employees. If a leader constantly snubs or rejects ideas from employees, they will resent the leader and put in half-baked efforts which will hinder the growth.

“IT’S PERFECT!”

This might seem like a counter so I don’t care but it isn’t. True leaders know that perfection is difficult to achieve which is why they don’t throw terms loosely. Even if a suggestion or plan seems brilliantly crafted, it is the leader’s job to scrutinize it minutely and seek a flaw or a loophole in the plan. However, the flaws need to be communicated in a good manner and worked upon.



“I CAN’T.”

True leaders never really say things like this because this statement on his part displays either lack of belief or limited actions. If a task seems undoable, leaders will somehow find a way to do it without disappointing their employees. If a leader utters these words, it leaves a negative impact on the whole organization.

“X DOES THIS BETTER THAN YOU.”

This is a demotivating and derogatory comparison and successful leaders will never say it even if they feel it. It is unhealthy and does not inspire hard work and efforts. A person can be criticized in a healthy manner but pitting employees against each other will create rifts in the team and give rise to unhealthy and spiteful competition internally and these tensions are the last thing a leader wants to deal with.

“DON’T SHOW UP WITH BAD NEWS OR SURPRISES.”

This is another very demotivating and incorrect thing to say to your employees, however, we do hear leader uttering it from time to time. This might lead to employees hiding stuff from the leader which might turn out to be very dangerous for the company. Instead of making such a strong negative statement, the leader should have a positive approach like “I need to hear good news, today”.



“I DON’T HAVE TIME FOR THIS”

It is not an uncommon fact that leaders are busy, but, that in no way gives a leader an authority to talk to an employee in this manner. A successful leader puts it across in a better way by saying things like “Now is not a good time”. However, no matter how busy they are, great leaders always manage to find time for their employees via technology if not in person.

“BECAUSE I SAID SO”

The above statement shows unnecessary bossiness and might come across as a rude statement. It is very humiliating and disrespectful for an employee as he feels that his ideas or way of working isn’t valued and he is just a puppet to whatever the boss says. Instead, a leader needs to give inputs in a pleasant manner in which employees are open to.





3 Rules to follow that will make you a successful leader

Founder and CEO of Predictable Success, Les McKeown, talks about the challenges that leaders face while managing their teams.

Founder and CEO of Predictable Success, Les McKeown, talks about the challenges that leaders face while managing their teams. Here are 3 rules to follow that will make you a successful leader.





7 Leadership lessons which entrepreneurs can learn from Rahul Dravid

A leader, a teammate and a wonderful human being, these words personify ‘The Wall’, Rahul Dravid in all their glory.

A leader, a teammate and a wonderful human being, these words personify ‘The Wall’, Rahul Dravid in all their glory. Rahul Dravid’s teammates didn’t nickname him Mr. Dependable for anything. This speaks volumes of his efficiency as a leader.

Former India captain and India U19 coach Rahul Dravid finally has a World Cup winners medal, let us take a look at a few leadership lessons entrepreneurs can learn from the world’s ace batsman of all time –Rahul Dravid.

‘Never say die’ attitude of Rahul Dravid

Rahul Dravid was one person who would never give up in the face of adversity. A good example to illustrate this would be back in 2001 during the three-match series against Australia at the Eden Gardens. India, who was already at the bottom of the league was lagging behind in the second match when Rahul

Dravid appeared at No. 6 partnering with Laxman. The only aim in Dravid’s mind at that point was to put up a fight. Lo and behold! India won the match by 171 runs! We learn an important lesson here- When everything seems to turn against you, never ever give up hope. Strive and work hard towards giving it your best and that is all that matters.

Being ‘The Wall’

Dravid always protected his team. The nickname ‘The Wall’ from Reebok advertisements rightly fits him.

In the corporate sector, the number 3 position is held by CROs and they have to play the cards well when the top management is deteriorating. They provide a defense mechanism and become a shield for the organization. Hence they become the wall. In a similar manner, Rahul Dravid who held the number 3 position in the batting order was ‘The Wall’ of the Indian cricket team with his consistency, grace, and patience.

“Dravid’s remarkable career is proof that nice guys don’t finish last” -Steve Waugh

Related Post: 10 Lessons every entrepreneur and startup should learn from Virat Kohli



You have to become a team player before becoming a leader

In life, one has to learn to co-operate, sacrifice and engage with the rest of the crowd, if results have to be seen. This is true w.r.t cricket as well. Rahul Dravid has the natural ability to do what is required for his team.

The Indian team once decided to take an extra batsman and that meant one player had to step down and play the role of wicketkeeper. Rahul Dravid played the role of a finisher and dropped down to number 5. This also brought down his opportunity to score hundreds. However, he did this gracefully for the sake of his team.

Strength of mind

Rahul Dravid has always had high concentration levels. He was never provoked by the media and never got into any controversies with his opponents. His game spoke volumes rather than any comments or criticism. He was always mentally strong. It was this quality in him that made him perform so well.

Related Post: 16 Leadership lessons from MS Dhoni for startups, entrepreneurs, and managers

Belief in himself

To become a good leader one has to have a firm belief in oneself.

In the early years, Rahul Dravid was seen mainly as a test player and not as one who could qualify for international series. However, he always believed in himself and worked hard. His incredible performance in the 1999 World Cup made the world notice his attacking proficiency. In all the times when people gave their negative opinions, he remained undeterred and worked on himself.



Consistency is key

Rahul Dravid did not attain success overnight. It was through hard work and perseverance that he slowly and steadily achieved each milestone. It took him around 10 matches to score his first half-century and around 33 matches for his first century. This proves that to master anything one has to be consistent.

Patience at all times

Rahul Dravid was always known for his qualities of a gentleman. In fact, the Australian cricket team honored him for his dignity and patience. Not once has he been seen losing his temper on the field or getting into petty fights with others. During all the critical times, he maintained his composure and has always been patient.

Rahul Dravid’s career both as a batman and coach go a long way in teaching us how to persist as a player serving the nation and as a down-to-earth person. Here’s to wishing this epitome of class, long life, and health.





8 steps in which entrepreneurs can become great leaders

To become a successful entrepreneur, you need to adorn the position of a great leader well.

To become a successful entrepreneur, you need to adorn the position of a great leader well. Leading a team of professional individuals isn’t an easy task and one needs to work hard in order to become a successful leader.

Here are 8 ways in which entrepreneurs can become great leaders:

1. Servant leadership

The style of authoritarian leadership has worn out with time. Now, leaders are more situational and the concept of servant leadership is slowly catching on in the entrepreneurial scene. The idea is to ask all individuals in the team what they need to get a piece of work done and listen to them. By listening to their needs and demands, you could learn a lot from your team and help in building a stronger one.

2. Communicate with your team

It is important to regularly meet up with your team and take feedback from them about how the work is progressing. Fix a time weekly and during the meeting, recognise what one has done publicly and listen to concerns of your team and try to solve them. Also, explain the goals to your team and tell them what you aspire to achieve. In this way, they’ll feel like a part of the organisation and the planning process.

Related Post: 10 things successful leaders or entrepreneurs never say



3. Make realistic promises

Don’t make promises based on assumptions because chances are that you won’t be able to fulfil them timely. Instead, be honest to yourself and your team and make realistic promises which you know you’ll be able to keep. If you make a promise which you can’t keep, you’ll be perceived as inefficient and unable by your team and they’ll start losing trust in you.

4. Ask for feedback

Don’t wait for your employees to come to you and give you feedback; go to tem and ask them for it in a nice, friendly manner. If they feel comfortable, they’ll give you honest feedback and through their comments, you’ll be able to identify what you’ve done wrong and change accordingly. The feedback might even result in changes in strategies for the better.

Related Post: What makes a Great Leader?

5. Treat your employees with utmost respect

No one likes working under a brash, rude and inconsiderate leader. You should treat your employees with utmost respect and listen to their concerns and their ideas. No matter what their designation is, take everyone’s input. Treat them like you would treat a customer and don’t lose your temper unnecessarily on someone.



6. Be assertive in making decisions

At some point all discussions between the team needs to cease and you need to make a decision. Don’t hesitate to make one; measure all the pros and cons and take one and stick to it. If you constantly keep taking inputs even after the decision is made, you’ll never reach to a final conclusion. Hence, the final call should be the leader’s and nobody can have a say after that.

Related Post: 4 best books for entrepreneurs related to personal development

7. Know your team members

Try and get to know each of your team members personally. Someone might be going through some crisis but be too shy to admit it. In that case, his work will also be affected. Be sensitive towards your team’s feelings and if you think they need a break, give it to them timely. Build a firm yet friendly relationship with the employees for a better understanding.

8. Stimulate professional growth

If you’ve watched an inspirational video or read a book you want your team to read as well, let them know with tiny rewards like a free lunch packet whoever finishes reading it first. Also, in the professional model, make sure your team isn’t affected heavily by failure and isn’t too elated by success as both the feelings could affect willingness to work further. Motivate and inspire your team at every step.

Follow these steps and you will find that you’ve become a great leader in no time.

Related Post: How to get better at leadership?





Top 8 characteristics required to become a great leader

Great leaders like Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, Barrack Obama etc possessed these traits which set them apart from the rest.

Leadership constitutes to a major and very important part of entrepreneurship. What sets entrepreneurs apart from normal office going people is their ability to lead a team and still innovate.

However, the common myth is that leaders are born, but a common person can actually become a leader with a certain skill set and qualities. Great leaders like Adolf Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi, Barrack Obama etc possessed these traits which set them apart from the rest.

Qualities required to become a successful leader are:

1. Master the art of delegation

A leader knows that he can’t be good at everything and because he can’t be omnipresent all the time, he needs to learn to delegate tasks to his team. Delegating tasks that one cannot undertake to the right people is a skill because in a way an entrepreneur trusts the person with his visionary of the company. It is very understand to understand one’s potential to able to delegate tasks to the team.



2. Communication

A leader’s forte should be his/her communication skills. S/he needs to communicate extensively with the team to make sure everyone’s on the same page. Hindrances in the communication process can lead to miscommunicated information and internal disputes amongst the employees.

It is always an added benefit if the leader is a motivational speaker and a fluent orator. Mahatma Gandhi was a great leader because through his speeches he could impress the audience and win their confidence.

Related post: 6 ways to become a mentally strong person

3. Confidence

A leader should always be confident about the risks and decisions he takes because if he isn’t sure about them, he can’t convince his team to work towards a single goal. Great leaders are successful because they set their end goal and stick to it no matter what. Also, leaders are self-reliant and look at the distant possibilities and long term goals instead of focusing on short-term fixes.

4. Motivating

It is also very important for an entrepreneur to be motivating because while the team works relentlessly on something, they need constant words of encouragement to keep them going. If someone has done a good job, an entrepreneur needs to praise the employee and if someone hasn’t performed very well, one needs to refrain from venting out anger on the employee and try and motivate him to do better the next time.

5. Empathetic

Great leaders are aware of the fact that at the end of the day, all employees are humans. So, the tendency to make mistakes by humans also holds true. An entrepreneur needs to be empathetic so that there is free flow of communication between the employer and the employees. Being aware of the employees’ problems is important for the growth of the venture as an employee’s personal life could be affecting his work. That is why leaders employee human resource people to take care of the employees.

Related post: 7 skills CEOs should learn from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi

6. Problem solving skills

Every problem faces in a business scenario doesn’t have a ready-made solution. The entrepreneur needs to have quick thinking and problem solving abilities. The boss is the one everyone approaches in a crisis; if s/he has no answer or gives up, the employees accept fate. Leaders should simply make use of their business acumen and knowledge of the industry to find quick and fitting solutions.

7. Trend setter

The leader should aspire to be a trend setter for the rest of them team. By being honest and transparent, one can easily gain the trust of the employees and through motivating speeches and words, encourage them to do better. Also, a leader should try and incorporate good habits like punctuality, healthy office lifestyle and hard work to inspire the team to do the same. If the boss is someone who is extremely relaxed, the employees tend to slack off too.



8. Brilliant organisers

It should come as no surprise that entrepreneurs are brilliant organisers because the managerial skills need to be strong to run a business and make quick yet efficient decisions. Most leaders have an eye for detail and an impressive memory which helps them succeed. Also, the organise a whole team and business down to the lowest level which shows their efficiency as an organiser.

Image credit: mylifeatail.com





6 ways to become a mentally strong person

For an entrepreneur to keep pushing forward and achieving his goal further needs to be a very mentally tough person.

It is a known fact that an entrepreneur doesn’t have it easy. Amidst the kaleidoscope of risk-taking, organising, managing and constantly innovating, it is very common for an entrepreneur to have a mental breakdown. However, an entrepreneur to keep pushing forward and achieving his goal further needs to be a very mentally tough person.

Climbing the corporate ladder and still looking after a team might seem taxing but the fruits achieved out of the hard labour are definitely rewarding.

Here are a few ways in which one can become a mentally strong person:

1. Be happy for others

“Dost first aaye toh bahut dukh hota hai”, stands true for the Indian crowd. It is very easy to envy and rant about co-workers who are doing well for themselves. But, this kind of attitude is just unhealthy and is getting you nowhere. Competition is a reality and to get to the winning spot, you need to work harder than before. The more you hate people, the more negativity you preach.

Also, try and congratulate your peers on their success and learn the tricks of trade from them. Their mistakes could teach you a lot about business.



2. Learn to give feedback to yourself

Don’t wait for validation from others regarding everything in life. If you think an idea is good enough, go ahead with it. Your belief and validation are all that counts. If you think you did well and believe aren’t getting praised enough, don’t feel bad. Instead, buck up and try and make yourself feel better. You are your own critique and use that power to the maximum.

Related Post: 5 Lessons entrepreneurs can learn from football coaches

3. Discontentment and whining will get you nowhere

As an entrepreneur, you need to accept that life is never fair and not everything is going to work out in your favour. And, whining about an unfavourable situation isn’t going to get you anywhere. You’ve chosen your life, so why not try and use time more constructively and not whine about things not going your way.

You need to learn to be positive and accept everything that comes your way. The challenge might seem complicated but a fresh and focused approach is bound to do wonders.

4. A calm and composed approach is essential

In the hustle bustle of a busy life, it is very easy to get bogged down with heaps of work and lose your composure. Screaming at employees will just dampen their spirits and cause rifts in the internal situation. A serene approach to important matters is the key to succeeding. If you think things aren’t going your way, take a deep breath and begin again.

If you’re a naturally hot-headed person, try practicing yoga or meditate daily for a composed inner self.

Related Post: 5 lessons for leaders who are just starting out

5. Do not forecast results

Mentally strong people never make the mistake of forecasting results as soon as a decision is made. What is even worse is that some people already think of an idea as a failure before thinking of the possibilities of making it work. If you dwell on the idea that it is not going to work, it probably won’t. Instead, if you put in efforts and try to make it work, you might actually succeed.

Hence, predicting negative or unfavourable outcomes is dangerous and partly why your end result is a failure.



6. Money isn’t everything

Earning money is essential for survival but your life shouldn’t revolve around how much earn. As an entrepreneur, you should value the growth and achievements of your company more than the profits you are making. It is easy to earn money but what’s the use if you aren’t getting job satisfaction out of earning that money.

You chose entrepreneurship for freedom and because you love what you do. Once you work with dedication and sincerity, money is bound to pour in. Pump back these profits into your company and watch it grow with pride.

Image credit: lifehack.org

How to get better at leadership?

Leaders are not born, instead, they possess a set of qualities which sets them apart from the general crowd and makes them worthy of leading a team.

There is no institution or university in the world which imparts knowledge about leadership skills; management does comprise of some aspects of leadership but nothing can make you a good leader.

Every entrepreneur needs to be a great leader in order to motivate their team and get work done in an error-free way. Leaders are not born, instead, they possess a set of qualities which sets them apart from the general crowd and makes them worthy of leading a team.

Here are five ways to become a better leader:

1. Build a dedicated team

A leader is aware of the fact that he cannot function alone and accomplish all tasks. so, to be more successful in the future, it is essential to build a strong and dedicated team of individuals who are experts in their own fields. These individuals should be willing to grow and learn together and make a venture bigger than what it is.

2. Motivate your team

A leader should be motivational and inspire his team to be better than the previous day. A leader should have a vision which he believes in and must trust his team enough to share it with them as well.



If the entrepreneur is able to show his team how the daily tasks are going to enable them to achieve a bigger motive, the team will be more motivated to work. Also, when things are going well, the entrepreneur should inspire people to never stop working and put in their cent percent always.

Related Post: 6 Entrepreneurs who failed before achieving success

3. It is necessary to support and trust the team

A good leader needs to be encouraging and supportive at all times. Because he believes in them, it is necessary that he stands by them during any kind of mishap. Also, if you believe an idea by your employee is good, take it ahead and give credit to the employee.

A true leader also trusts his team with his vision of the company and he believes they’ll make it bigger by contributing to his initial vision. The trust and support motivate you team to do better.

4. Ask for feedback

It is very necessary to keep learning and growing as a leader. If you don’t know what you are doing is wrong, you will never be able to be right. Hence, by just asking you team for a feedback, you can learn a lot about the things or methods that require alteration. Sometimes, people fear the leader and do not give correct feedback. Try and avoid that bias. Also, try and improve on the points that you think are valid because if you start pleasing everybody as a leader, you’ll have a tough time actually leading a company.

Also, try and do self assessments like a 360 assessment to understand your potential and flaws better. This will help you gain more success as a leader.

Related Post: India’s 15 most successful female entrepreneurs



5. Don’t shy away from getting help

Leadership coaching has been gaining popularity worldwide because of amazing results being derived out of it. It helps in increasing productivity and ensures better outcome over a period of time.

The best part about leadership coaching is that people who are a lot more experienced than you impart knowledge about stuff you’re not very well-versed with. A lot of great leaders are going in for leadership coaching to become better leaders.

Related Post: What entrepreneurs can learn from Shradha Sharma, founder of YourStory





Lessons in leadership from The Minions

The Minions is supposed to be a children’s movie, all about fun and laughter, and not to read too much into it or between the lines. But, the movie offers surprisingly some deep lessons in leadership and entrepreneurship.

We know The Minions is supposed to be a children’s movie, all about fun and laughter, and not to read too much into it or between the lines. But, the movie offers surprisingly, some deep lessons in leadership and entrepreneurship. So, if you have not watched the movie yet and planning to, then stop reading right now for there are SPOILERS AHEAD.

1. Take Risks: Kevin, Stuart and Bob need not have made that perilous journey out of the cold, snow-covered cave the Minions had made their home. They could have wallowed in collective misery. But they did not give up and so found the ‘boss’ they wanted so desperately. A number of startups/companies flounder because the founder/leader is scared to try something new. Only if you take a big risk, do you stand the chance of a big reward.

2. Hedge your bets: The entire Minion colony did not follow Kevin when he hatched the plan to go find them a big, bad boss. They only sent guitar-strumming Stuart and little Bob with Kevin. When expanding into new categories or creating a new product, it might not make sense for the entire team to change track until there is validation that the new category or product works.

3. Take care of your team: It was Scarlet Overkill’s super villainy that made the Minions want to work for her. But they wanted the soft beds, bedtime stories and, of course, bananas to be happy with her. You might be the biggest and ‘baddest boss’ and your minions might have joined you because of your badness. But if you are bad to your minions they are not going to stay with you for too long.



3. Don’t be scared of super minions: Scarlet Overkill could not handle it when Bob was crowned King, even though the Minions handed her the crown and she was able to achieve her longest held wish. This was her downfall. A leader should not be worried about being overshadowed by super talented juniors. Rewarding and encouraging them will be the key to your success.

4. Take responsibility: When Scarlet Overkill went nuclear against the Minions, Kevin did not cower behind the rest of the Minions. He took on Scarlet and protected his ‘buddies’, since he was their leader and he was responsible (primarily) for her hating the Minions. A leader will not blame his juniors nor expect them to take responsibility for his errors. Kevin earned the Minions’ respect and so will you as a leader when you stand up for your team.

5. Jump for the bigger opportunity: Despite everything Scarlet Overkill did to the Minions Kevin did run behind her, as she was the biggest super villain he had ever known (a genetic flaw of the Minions). But the moment Kevin lay his eyes on Felonious Gru he knew—here was a bigger, better villain. Many leaders, especially startup founders, cannot let go of their product or the market they were targeting even if a bigger opportunity slaps them in the face. Don’t be so married to your idea that you do not exploit a larger market.

This article was originally published in yourstory.com

Image Credit: cinemaedintorni.com



Leadership Is Learned From Experience, Mentoring and Failure

There is no magic formula or recipe to get you there, but there are some key leadership principles that anyone can aspire too and learn from.

Committees don’t create successful startups. A single visionary entrepreneur almost always is the initial implementer of an innovative new venture, but that lone entrepreneur doesn’t have the bandwidth to grow the business alone. He or she needs the multiplier of growing from the “doer” to a team-builder and leader. That’s a big transition, and many entrepreneurs never make it.

These entrepreneurs know instinctively what needs to be done, but they may have no idea how to get it done through others. Some will argue that people leadership is a skill you have to be born with, but I’m convinced that it can be learned from experience, mentoring and failures. The ones who learn quickest are the ones who move from good entrepreneurs to good business leaders.

In my experience working with entrepreneurs and business leaders, I have found no magic formula or recipe to get you there, but there are some key leadership principles that anyone can aspire too and learn from, including the following:

1. Become an ardent student of leadership.

Entrepreneurs who become business leaders study the successes of peers and seek to emulate them. They reach to find mentors who have been there, read books on the subject, and participate in leadership development programs. Leadership requires focus and effort and doesn’t happen by title.

2. Set personal leadership goals and solicit feedback.

Business leadership requires spending more time working on the business, and less time working in the business. You can measure these activities yourself and get validation from your team. How much of your time is spent on futures, strategizing and coaching versus fixing daily crises?

3. Tackle new challenges outside your comfort zone.

If you never push your limits and never fail, you never learn new capabilities. As a new entrepreneur, perhaps you have no experience with hiring and delegating, yet these skills are not rocket science. Don’t be afraid to ask for support from more experienced peers and human resources experts.

4. Celebrate small successes and learn from failures.

People who demand perfection from themselves are rarely good leaders. Learn to celebrate small steps in the right direction and failures that are a source of real insight. Be humble and transparent in involving your team and even your customers in your successes and your mistakes.



5. Recognize and reward leadership successes around you.

Working to recognize and celebrate leadership in others will supplement and solidify your own capabilities. The more often you walk in the shoes of leaders around you, the easier and more natural it will be for you to define and capitalize on your own leadership elements.

6. Demand strong performance and deal quickly with mediocrity.

Recognized business leaders are known for their expectation of excellence from their team — and from themselves. They do not tolerate mediocrity around them, which keeps their teams highly motivated and proud to be associated with the leader as a role model.

7. Work on improving your communication skills.

Effective leadership requires effective communication, including verbal, written and body-language. Your team, customers and partners need to understand your vision, goals and what is expected of them before they decide to follow you. Great leaders also practice active listening and full attention.

8. Go forward with passion and a positive attitude.

No one wants to follow a habitually grumpy or negative entrepreneur. Business people are naturally attracted to passionate, motivated and enthusiastic peers. A side benefit is that you will feel happier and more fulfilled when surrounded by similar positive people. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

To grow from being an entrepreneur to a business leader is a personal challenge and not one that everyone can deal with. The core principles are the same for both — develop and articulate a vision, act decisively and build personal relationships. The leadership multiplier is required to effectively incent others around you to do the same. How well is that multiplier working for you?

Author: Martin Zwilling

Martin Zwilling is the founder and CEO of Startup Professionals, a company that provides products and services to startup founders and small business owners. The author of Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Entrepreneur? and Attracting an Angel, he writes a daily blog for entrepreneurs and dispenses advice on the subject of startups.

This article was originally published in Entrepreneur.com

Image credit: www.businesstopia.net



10 Lessons every entrepreneur and startup should learn from Virat Kohli

How could Virat Kohli is linked to startups or entrepreneurship? Well, there are a handful of things which entrepreneurs and startups could definitely learn from him.

Well, there’s barely any doubt that we are talking about one of the greatest sportsmen of the 21st century. But, it’s not just the talent that has amazed people across the globe. The evolution of a temperamental prodigy to a legend in the making is something that has left an everlasting impact on one and all.

But, how could Virat Kohli is linked to startups or entrepreneurship? Well, there are a handful of things which entrepreneurs and startups could definitely learn from him.

1. Stick To Basics

First and most important lesson from Virat Kohli is stick to basics and not to be too fancy with your strategy. When you get to run a startup first card of your deck is to know and stick to what and how it has to be done.

2. Start Steady

Never show your smartness on field too much. When you start, start steady, as an entrepreneur always remember to keep your feet well placed on ground before shooting high.

3. Understand The Atmosphere

Before entering into any industry/sector, first understand that industry/sector well. Before launching your startup, study well about your competition, entry cost, market size and exit cost.

4. Time Your Shot

As an entrepreneur, timing is very important. A bad timing shot can send you back to pavilion. Also as an entrepreneur, never lose on opportunities.



5. Create Reputation

One of the tough task is to create reputation, but the toughest of that is to sustain that reputation. As an entrepreneur you should work to create a reputation for yourself and for your brand, and try to sustain that reputation.

6. Be Aggressive

Reflect your energy in every possible way you could, this will always keep others informed about your mindset and toughness. As an entrepreneur, try to be aggressive whenever it’s needed as you could flick that mental edge over competition.

7. Study Your Opponents

Whenever you are up against any opponent, it isn’t enough to know just about yourself, your strength and weakness. As an entrepreneur, you should do a thorough study on your opponents as much as you study yourself.

8. Create Opportunities

As an entrepreneur never sit back and think about opportunities, and wait for them. As an entrepreneur, create opportunities for yourself. And entrepreneurs, never lose on opportunities.

9. Trust Your Instincts

As an entrepreneur your biggest asset is your self-belief. You should have the belief to trust your instincts while taking big calls.

10. Focus On Final Goal

Always keep your focus razor sharp on final goal and push yourself towards it. When you walk towards your goal, never dilute yourself and your efforts with clusters of small tasks.