What is one leadership lesson you’ve learned from a successful startup founder, and how have you applied it to your own leadership style?

People Over Profits I have learned the best leadership lesson of "People Over Profits" from Tony Hsieh of Zappos. He emphasized that if you focus on providing the best environment and taking care of your employees you will achieve long-term success. I've applied this by focusing on my team's well-being and development, trusting that when they're content, they'll excel and drive our business forward.

One invaluable leadership lesson I gleaned came from Brian Chesky, the co-founder of Airbnb. He underscored the philosophy of "Being a Host, Not Just a Leader." Chesky believes in embracing empathy, anticipating needs, and fostering an environment where everyone feels they belong. Inspired by this, I've reshaped my leadership style to be more inclusive and attentive. I prioritize active listening and strive to create a workspace where each team member feels valued and heard. Instead of merely managing, I focus on hosting—ensuring everyone has the tools and environment they need to succeed. By embodying this hospitality-driven approach, I've seen improved team morale, increased creativity, and stronger collaborations.

Sometimes, the best lessons are on what not to do. Often, startup founders lack the experience of working with other types of teams, where they are lower on the hierarchy. Then, when they start to grow, they lead according to preconceptions that aren't always true. Some will lead well, but others will do poorly. I've worked with many startup founders. Some were clients, others were bosses or strategic partners. The best lessons I've learned were about striking a balance between leading with authority, leading through inspiration, and letting people lead themselves. Great leaders exercise a situational leadership style. Every company, project, and individual will respond differently to different styles. As a general rule, you want to be a bit more autocratic with inexperienced people, and more laissez-faire with highly experienced or highly motivated people who function best when you leave them alone. Keep in mind, people change and you need to adapt your leadership style accordingly.

I was struggling with keeping certain members of my team accountable, and it was hurting our key metrics. I heard another founder talk about struggling with this same thing, and that his solution was to "lean in." The problem wasn't our systems or employees, it was ME. Because I'm prone to having a laissez-farz approach to management, the phrase "lean in" is a helpful reminder that sometimes the best thing for the company is to dive head-first into the weeds.

One invaluable leadership lesson I gleaned from Mr. Gautam Bali, the MD of Vestige, is the power of empowerment. Witnessing how he empowered individuals to lead their lives on their own terms while spreading wealth through wellness deeply resonated with me. The ethos of Vestige, focused on promoting well-being, not only in terms of health but also financial wellth, struck a chord. This lesson has influenced my leadership style profoundly. I've come to realize that true leadership isn't just about directing and managing, but about enabling and empowering. I've actively fostered an environment where team members are encouraged to take ownership of their projects and ideas. By valuing autonomy and granting decision-making authority, I've seen increased engagement and creativity among my team. Furthermore, the notion of "wellth" has transformed my approach to employee satisfaction. I've adopted a more holistic perspective, recognizing that financial rewards are essential

A valuable leadership lesson I've learned from a successful startup founder is the importance of fostering a culture of open communication and feedback. Witnessing how transparent communication channels between the founder and the team contributed to innovation and rapid problem-solving, I've applied this lesson to my own leadership style. I prioritize creating an environment where team members feel empowered to voice their ideas, concerns, and suggestions openly. This has facilitated creative thinking and adaptability and deepened trust and collaboration. By embracing this approach, I've seen improved team cohesion, faster decision-making, and a culture of continuous improvement, ultimately propelling our startup's success.

Resourceful Problem-Solving I once had a riveting conversation with a seasoned startup founder, Jane. She told me, "In the gaming world, much like in business, the rules can change overnight." This struck a chord. One time, our esports tournament faced a last-minute venue cancellation. Instead of panicking, I recalled Jane's words and quickly mobilized our team. We transformed a nearby vacant warehouse into an immersive gaming arena within hours. This experience taught me the importance of adaptability and creative thinking. Now, whenever challenges arise in our business, I approach them not as setbacks, but as puzzles waiting for innovative solutions.

One leadership lesson I've learned from a successful startup founder is the importance of embracing failure as a learning opportunity. Rather than berating themselves or their team for making mistakes, this founder viewed failures as valuable lessons that could propel them towards success. Inspired by this approach, I have applied it to my own leadership style by creating an environment where mistakes are not only accepted but encouraged. By fostering a culture that celebrates experimentation and risk-taking, I have seen my team become more innovative and willing to tackle ambitious projects. The idea that failure is not final but rather a stepping stone towards growth has allowed us to push boundaries and constantly seek improvement. This unconventional example has taught me that failing fast and often can ultimately lead to greater achievements in the long run.

If members of your team come up to you with a good idea and you feel the urge to give critical feedback to improve their idea. Then don't. Yes, perhaps you could improve their idea. But by doing so, they feel less like it's their idea and will be less engaged and will take less ownership. The 10% improvement you could have made, will be counteracted by 30% less engagement by the team. If the team stays engaged, they will ultimately improve the idea themselves to even higher levels. So best is to encourage these ideas, and give them your trust.

Success is a Staircase not an Elevator. This was great advice I received from the CEO of a muti million dollar start-up. He said to not rely on big wins - that is gambling. You need to be making progress every day towards you goal, and before you know it you will succeed. So when I feel down, or that things are not going my way, I ensure I do _something_ even if it's small, in progress towards my start-ups goals. Oh and when you do get those big wins / windfall gains they become a nice bonus - but they are not part of your continuous plan. And when you look back over a year you realise how far you have come.

The leadership lesson that I have acquired thus far did not stem from a startup founder, but rather from a Master Teacher. I have comprehended that authentic success is not exclusively gauged by one's achievements or material possessions, but rather by the individual that one transforms into throughout the expedition. To me, this is the ultimate priority - the capability to progress into a superior and more proficient version of oneself. I have assimilated this priceless perception into both my personal and professional life. My utmost apprehension in life is the inability to fulfill my utmost potential as a human being, as this would be a personal disappointment.

One invaluable leadership lesson I've learned from a successful startup founder is the power of vulnerability and emotional intelligence. I've incorporated this into my own leadership style, particularly at Technews, by being upfront about my challenges and really listening to what my team is going through. I don't just nod and move on; I empathize with their experiences. When leaders show vulnerability, it becomes a strength that promotes deeper relationships and a more engaged team. If you want to enhance your leadership capabilities, don't underestimate the impact of emotional intelligence and the courage to be vulnerable.

One valuable leadership lesson I learned from a successful startup founder is to always hire people who know more about a specific subject than you do. By hiring these skilled individuals, or "A-players," your team becomes much stronger, and the business can grow much faster. This advice taught me to not be afraid of bringing in experts, even if they know more than me in certain areas. I've applied this lesson in my own leadership by focusing on quality when hiring. I look for people who are experts in their field and can bring fresh ideas and knowledge to the team. This approach has helped my business become more innovative and effective, and it has created a culture where everyone is encouraged to learn and grow.

One leadership lesson I've learned from a successful startup founder is the significance of emotional intelligence in guiding a team. In my life coaching business, I've seen how understanding and managing emotions can make or break relationships. So, when I'm hiring or managing my team, I prioritize creating an environment where everyone feels heard and valued. This approach has created trust and led to more genuine and productive conversations. For instance, when we face challenges, instead of pointing fingers, we collectively brainstorm solutions, drawing from each member's unique perspective. It's through this collaboration, leveraging the collective strength of my team's emotions and expertise, that we drive success.

Sam Altman said "be relentlessly resourceful." In the startup world—and honestly, in any business—obstacles are the rule, not the exception. Being relentlessly resourceful reminds me that the goal isn't to avoid challenges but to meet them head-on with creativity and resilience. It's not just about having resources; it's about maximizing what you have, even when it seems not enough for the task ahead. It's less about the size of your war chest and more about how you wield the sword. With my team, when we face setbacks, we collectively look for alternative paths instead of dwelling on limitations.

Identifying team members' passions is essential. I've applied this by: Discovering Passions: Understanding what excites each individual. Empowering Individuals: Providing tools and resources to excel. Clearing Obstacles: Removing roadblocks that hinder progress. Stepping Back: Allowing ownership and autonomy. This fosters growth, creativity, and outstanding performance, creating a culture where team members are engaged and aligned with goals. The result is a motivated team achieving remarkable successes.

At some point, you're going to need to trust someone else with your baby. Unless you want to run yourself into an early grave, every successful startup founder needs to know when and, more importantly, what to delegate to others. Giving up the reins can be difficult, but there is a definite order of operations that you need to follow when the company starts to grow to make sure you don't become the bottleneck. In my case, it's meant holistic training of our first staff so that they are better able to slot in where needed and I can be safe in knowing that they know their stuff.

One invaluable leadership lesson I picked up from a seasoned startup founder is the essence of adaptability. I remember a time early in my chakra healing business journey when a client was skeptical about the efficacy of our methods. Instead of getting defensive, I recalled the advice I had received - to pivot and adapt. I took a step back, listened to the client's concerns, and tailored our approach to better suit their needs. This resulted in a satisfied customer and a reaffirmed belief that being flexible and open to change is not just a strategy but a leadership mantra.

Keep The Employee Happy And Motivated: One of the things I have learned from successful startup founders like Kavin Bharti Mittal or Byju Raveendran is that employees are like the backbone of an organisation and it is very important to keep them happy. A happy and motivated employee can help a company reach unimaginable heights. As a leader, it is my duty to help all the employees feel a sense of belonging and satisfaction in my company.

Learning from a successful startup founder, I realized the significance of maintaining a healthy work-life balance to foster overall well-being and productivity. I have applied this lesson by promoting work-life balance initiatives, encouraging self-care, and setting realistic expectations for my team. Prioritizing work-life balance has influenced my leadership style to be more empathetic and supportive. For example, I implemented flexible working hours and encouraged employees to take regular breaks. This focus on work-life balance has not only improved the overall morale and motivation within the team but also resulted in higher productivity and reduced burnout.