Leadership Principles
Recently I spoke to a group of entrepreneurs, at the 757 Startup Studios, where new entrepreneurs advance their ideas and their new business ventures. This informal discussion was focused on leadership principles for their start-up organizations and how these principles will impact hiring employee #1. The “casual fireside coffee chat” provided the opportunity to engage in a thoughtful discussion with learners and business leaders eager to learn and grow together. So, what were the principles I shared?
Principle #1 – Leaders Lead from the Front
If you’re a leader, then the implication is that there is someone following you. As a result, those followers are watching your every move and that means anyone hired by you is, too. Suddenly, who you are takes on a new meaning. Your credibility, competence, character, and confidence are on full display. A leader’s character is essentially who they are at their core; can you trust them to do the right thing, to keep their word, and do they really care about others? Leadership is not leading with a focus on self but rather leading with and for others, particularly, those who follow. After all you can’t have a leader without a follower.
Principle #2 – Leaders Lead with and Communicate a Compelling Vision
Self-start or quick-start entrepreneurs quickly recognize that not all followers are the same. Therefore, leaders must be able to take their vision and share it with others in a way that others hear. Knowing your audience becomes critical if followers are to move in the same direction as their leader. Breaking a vision down into the smallest parts, while tedious, is essential so followers follow without frustration and misunderstanding. There’s an adage that I think is appropriate for entrepreneurs to remember; leaders must communicate 7 times in 7 ways. Yes, this may be time-consuming, and leaders may rail against communicating this way, but for those who communicate differently, tailoring communication about the vision for the organization and ideas is essential.
Principle #3 – Leaders Lead with a Growth Mindset
This principle begins with a crucial understanding of knowing yourself; the essence of what you do well and what you don’t do well. As you consider building a team, you’ll know where your strength deficiencies are and what “skill” you need to hire. By having this honest and authentic view of yourself you can chart a plan for own your growth, charting your own learning journey that builds on strengths, overcomes your blind spots, and fills your opportunity gaps with new skills. As you bring this kind of leadership to life, you and your new team will freely admit mistakes, learn from each other rather than being threatened by each other, and your culture becomes one of resilience and continually moving forward.
When leaders consider these principles as they develop and grow their business, they will soon realize that the organization is best when there is a more other-centered approach than self-indulged leaders with egos driving transactions that are designed to make the leaders look good. Transactions are replaced with a transformative view of the organization. With this view in mind, leaders can build and grow from lessons learned recognizing success and failures are both pivotal in reaching new goals. In addition, while relying on the strengths of individual team members that serve and benefit the whole organization, new team members become engaged and want to contribute knowing they have a role in the building-up process. When this happens, organizations become a place where results and goals are achieved and where employees are satisfied and fulfilled at work. With this perspective in mind, employees understand that when one team member loses, everyone does.
The leaders I met were engaged and thoughtful. Their contributions to the discussion demonstrated how their thought leadership can be practiced and brought to life with each interaction. I am confident they are well positioned to hire employee #1 with a focus on hiring what is needed for the organization in this critical building phase. They have my support!