January 2, 2019

You may have learned that for many people, the entrepreneurial spirit is centered around taking calculated risks and requires dedication and strong leadership. But those skills are not the only qualities entrepreneurs need to consider. Take a look at the skills below to learn more about what is needed to help you on your path to success!

It is vital for a leader to allow open communication to flow, so teammates can contribute thoughts. As a leader, you need to be able to listen to input, then asses and implement it for the betterment of the company. Enhanced communication can not only lead to better ideas and work quality, but it can also introduce a happier work environment.

Each person on a team has ideas and talents that they can implement for the betterment of the company. Valuing the commitment and dedication of each member of your team is only step one.

Step two is having faith that the team is capable of doing individual jobs well.

What team members need is a leader who trusts and provides freedom to prove what what they can do. Just as a leader wants success for the startup, so does the team. Good leaders know that valuing hard work and trusting judgement can lead to amazing work.

An effective leader needs to be able to comply with new changes. If you approach obstacles with an open mindset and allow yourself to work with them rather than ignore them, the company can continue to grow along with the changing times.

The path along success is filled with highs and lows. Learn from setbacks and criticism. Success will come from having the power to keep getting up with only the goal in sight. As a leader, there is a commitment to your team and company to stay aligned with the vision and rise above difficulties.

Starting a company from scratch means there is a long journey ahead and within that journey, there will be so much to learn. A leader needs to be curious and willing to absorb as much knowledge as possible. Whether it is about the market, customers/clients, industry standards, etc., you need to keep learning even after you've completed your formal education. You will also learn the value of reflecting on past mistakes, feedback from the team and even your competition's work.

Although these are all soft skills many people have a grasp on, it is important to strive to develop and improve upon these qualities while you're leading a team and growing your startup!

Jill Patel, Communications, Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship