Entrepreneurs are the new stars of the Indian business landscape.
They have achieved cult status due to megabuck evaluations, innovative products, novel marketing techniques and the ability to take on International giants.
The industry views with awe, their boldness in breaking traditional barriers and creating a new demand for their products and services. But for every one entrepreneur who rose to the top of the heap, there are hundreds lying at the bottom that could not complete the climb.
These entrepreneurs who are able to stay ahead in a highly competitive and disruptive environment have some distinct qualities that make them withstand, overcome and outlast all odds.
The very decision for an individual to set upon the entrepreneurial path in itself is a bold step. Though successful entrepreneurs eventually end up making a lot of money but that is not the objective alone with which they chose this path.
There is that inborn instinct to not accept the way things are, and the knowledge that there is a better way to do things that give birth to entrepreneurs. Right from that leap of faith into the unknown, till a successfully running business, there are quite a few qualities at work in such entrepreneurs which make them leaders of the pack.
Passion for their ideas
It’s an idea that ignites an entrepreneur’s passion. An idea may be a new technology, a new way of doing an old thing and a creative twist to revolutionise business models. When the idea is coupled with complete conviction, an overriding passion becomes the driving force.
All successful entrepreneur are defined by this lifelong passion for their idea or ideas which are so strong that they are able to convince their team, their investors and their customers to be a part of this passion. History is proof of how the passion of all great leaders was the biggest motivational force to mobilise support and unite the masses towards one objective.
Strong visualisation of their goals
A true leader can visualise how their ideas can be brought to fruition right until the end. They have thought out the whole process in detail, debated with themselves over the pros and cons and anticipated the problems that they might come across.
Such entrepreneurs can visualise in advance the path they want to take, what form their company will take and how their future will unfold right from conception to realisation. Entrepreneurs like the late Steve Jobs had this ability. He was able to set the trends for the future. His technological innovations made the brand ‘Apple,’ capture the imagination of the world.
Determination and resilience against all odds
It is not that entrepreneurs set out to take risks but it is a part and parcel of their journey.
It is an iron will that makes them persist in the face of opposition or failure. With an unwavering focus on the task at hand, a leader will accept the challenges and ultimately conquer it. Walt Disney, the famous animator, is one such example of unwavering determination which spawned a whole industry. He was fired from his first job, was unable to sell Mickey Mouse to any studio and subsequently met with numerous rejections over 15 to 20 years or more to come out financially successful.
Collaborates well with others
It always pays for a leader to have a very high emotional quotient. A leader should be able to engage and invest in a team which can be trusted to take forward the vision. Successful leaders are able to listen well, respect others opinions, and can convince people to their own point of view.
To be able to do this they have to possess exceptional communication skills. Entrepreneurs also need mentoring skills to train up their support team, value them and inspire them. Plus they should be able to network well with other contemporaries to keep an ear to the ground for new developments, acquire resources, and find potential partnerships.
Highly adaptable and quick learners
In the choppy waters of an entrepreneur’s journey, the ability to quickly adapt to changing circumstances is a very important survival skill. In the superfast technology highway of today, if the entrepreneur is not innovating they can be easily left behind.
As the CEO of Adobe Systems, Shantanu Narayen assessed that – down the road, the software will no longer be distributed on physical discs. Narayen boldly changed his company’s distribution model at a time when it was riding high on its box sets, to a subscription model. It has seen great success and is able to keep up with the likes of Netflix.
According to Vishesh Goel, CoFounder at FitMeIn, “What makes a great leader an Entrepreneur is their ability to include others in their vision and harness their potential to achieve it. This is especially true for Entrepreneurs, as they create their own cultures of leadership in their companies.
There are no set rules – they just go ahead and make their own. And this makes it critical for them to ensure that there is some method in all the madness. And that is what makes for a great leader.”
Published on Bizztor Media