When it comes to their own abilities, people are understandably coy. They want to avoid being labeled as big-headed. Hubris is a terrible thing.
But, at the same time, there are a lot of people out there who chronically under-sell themselves. These leaders have no idea how good they actually are and that holds them back when it comes to starting their own companies.
In this post, we take a look at some of the signs you were born to lead. You don’t have to trumpet these qualities from on high, but they can be a great way to feel quietly confident about your abilities. Aspiring leaders often imagine they have to lead all the time. They need to constantly work and micromanage their employees, controlling their every action.
But that’s not actually what great leaders do. Instead, these people step back when things are working and only intervene when there’s an issue.
If you’re someone who avoids micromanaging people while, at the same time, resolving issues when they come up, you could be a great leader and you might want to consider starting your own firm.
Great leaders are also obsessed with causes, not just promotions. Sure, it’s nice to be the CEO. But if you really want to be successful, it has to be about more than just making money. That’s simply not enough. Causes can take all sorts of forms, but it has to be something that is more important to you than your paycheck. If money comes first, then you might want to take a step back from the idea of starting a business and explore other options, including what really matters to you.
There are some rules in life that you have to follow. But there are also a lot of unspoken rules which are, in reality, just pure impositions by other people or relics of the culture.
Regular managers plod along, obeying rules no matter how ridiculous they are. Top leaders, though, aren’t afraid to take risks and break rules from time to time to explore what’s possible.
Surprisingly, many organizations protect and allow this type of behavior. They want people to step outside of the box and think for themselves. They need individuals who are willing to innovate at the edges and change how firms run themselves.
Of course, you’ll still want to have integrity and empathy. But if a rule is genuinely stupid, why not break it and see what happens?
You might be ready to start your own company if you’re someone who isn’t afraid to speak out. Organizations are crying out for employees who are prepared to stand up for what’s right. While it might get you in a little bit of trouble to start off, it will pay off in the end. People will recognize your integrity and automatically want you to progress in their organizations.
Leaders understand that they can’t build companies solo. That’s a ridiculous project. Instead, they need committed and talented people around them to get things done.
For this reason, company formationis more than just choosing a business structure for your enterprise, it’s also about making sure you have the best team. This is the top focus for the best entrepreneurs. They make sure that they have the right people to get stuff done and push their projects forward at a lightning pace. You Give Credit When It Has Been Earned
The best leaders avoid punishing people whenever possible. Instead, they build up their teams by giving credit where it’s due.
True leaders very rarely use the words “I” or “me.” Instead, they focus on saying and doing things that build everyone around them up so that they can do better work. They are insistent in their approach, building company cultures that can stand the test of time.
Great leaders also tend to be contagiously positive people. They’re always happy, motivated, and doing whatever they can to bring projects to fruition.
The people around them can’t help but feel the same. All of a sudden, they stop working for a paycheck and get passionate about what they’re doing.
Interestingly, most of the best leaders are humble people. They keep their sense of humor and don’t take things too seriously. They generate enthusiasm by praising team members and meeting their emotional needs. Work doesn’t feel like a drag. It’s more like fun and no one is watching the clock.
Great leaders also have a fabulous ability to listencarefully to other people. Rather than just waiting to say their piece, they actively listen and respond to others in ways that they need. Leaders are also capable of accepting criticism from time to time. If they get something wrong, they work to improve it and make changes to their style. They aren’t rigid and they tend to have thick skin.
Getting other people to change is one of the most difficult things in the world. Most individuals want to go their own way and stick to the formula they’re used to. But, as a leader, you have to break them out of their bad habits and set them on a more productive path.
You can be a great leader in any area of life but if you can get the best out of people in business, your economic value is enormous.
Lastly, great leaders tend to have exceptional intuition. They’re able to peer into a situation and make great decisions right off the bat, sometimes without thinking much about it at all.
Intuition is a critical skill in businessbecause it lets leaders react quickly when new situations come along. They’re able to manage things in real time instead of setting policy by committee.