Ahavel Aborishade: Be an Effective and Inspirational Leader

A talented and ambitious entrepreneur can achieve great things working on their own. But at some point, a venture will become large enough to need employees - and that means the solo entrepreneur needs to take on a leadership role.

But being a great entrepreneur doesn't necessarily mean you'll be a great business leader. And if you don't get the most out of your team, even the most promising ventures will fail. Read on to find out Ahavel Aborishade’s advice to become a leader that drives success.

Coach and Nurture

Treat your team members as resources you can nurture, not underlings there to do your every bidding. Develop their skills, build their enthusiasm, and share your knowledge and vision. Never worry about creating future competition by making your staff as effective as they can be.

Inspire and Enthuse

A strong leader should be respected, not feared. If you're relying on authority to get results instead of generating enthusiasm, you're taking the wrong approach. Enthusing your staff will make them go the extra mile to achieve success. An unhappy, fearful employee will do the bare minimum to get by, and will probably resent even that effort.

Focus on the Team

As the cliche has it, there's no "I" in team. But all too many bosses forget that this applies to the leader as well as the employees. Everyone should know exactly who's in charge, but a leader shouldn't stand completely apart and aloof. Seek opinions and respect them, and monitor workloads to make sure the team dynamic is functioning as well as it should.

Pitch in When Needed

As part of the team ethic, a leader should be willing to get their hands dirty when hard work needs doing. Even if that's fixing a mistake of another, leave any blame games for another time, if ever. Just help fix the problem then address what went wrong later.

Communicate Well

Make sure all your employees know where you're coming from and where you want to go. Don't assume they'll understand your vision for your enterprise. Even the most productive staff are wasted if they're working toward the wrong goals through a lack of communication.

Be Willing to Delegate

Micromanaging talented and competent staff will just guarantee their resentment. Let them have their head, so long as they're properly monitored and answerable for their results.

Take Responsibility

But no matter how well you consult and delegate, the buck stops with you. Take responsibility for the decisions you make and for the direction you're leading your team in. If a project isn't working out, don't think you can shift the blame onto your employees - it's up to you to change things for the better.

Any business beyond a certain size needs effective teamwork, and that means an active and inspirational leader. A natural entrepreneur isn't necessarily a natural leader, but if you apply your talents and drive, it's entirely possible to make the transition.

About: Ahavel Aborishade is a business leader, tech aficionado and an emerging entrepreneur in the technologic world. Focusing on building a better future for those around her, Ahavel uses her passion for technology and community to create nuanced applications that enliven daily experiences.