It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there - at least, that's what they say. But when it comes leading a team, is a brutal, take-no-prisoners attitude really necessary to be taken seriously in business?
To answer this question think about the role models in your own life… Who have you respected and wanted to do a great job for? Who has inspired you to push yourself? Whether a parent, boss, teacher, friend or mentor - no doubt, these people will have supported you as much as they challenged you.
The days of needing to play to stereotypes, like a bully in the boardroom or ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ on a work social, are finally over!
Watch successful entrepreneurs explain how they strike the balance between being a boss and BFF at work.
Do you have to be savage to be successful?
Kayode:
No, but at the same time, you do have to carry a weight about you. So you don't have to be a savage, like don't be a mean person and don't not be a nice guy. But still, hold your weight when it comes to certain situations in business.
Sian:
Me and my staff all have a laugh in the office. But the first and foremost thing is the business, and making sure that's doing what it should be doing. You're not sat telling them all your gossip about your personal life. There is definitely a line I think.
Jackie:
I definitely think you can be friendly and run a business. I personally am pretty friendly, which you might not have seen on The Apprentice. But, equally, I also am quite strong and strong-willed, so I think you can be both. I don't think it necessarily has to be one or the other.
Saima:
You need to be confident in what you're doing. You need to stand your ground because the way the world is right now in terms of, YouTube or Instagram or working with brands, it's very easy for people to walk all over you. So I'm not saying, you know be bossy or anything like that. But be assertive. Know what you want and go back down for something you do want.
What makes a good leader?
Casper:
Part of being a leader is having difficult conversations … and there have really tough moments, especially at this age when am still twenty-four years old and you're working with people who have a lot more experience than you. And for you to make a decision about their career can be really difficult.
Sheree:
I think the best qualities that we want in a leader is empathy. We want people that care about other people. There is a very unique difference in a boss and a leader, and a boss is someone that you work for and the leader is someone you work with.
Ben:
When I first started out leading my business and staff, I realised I was micromanaging, you know, I was telling them what to do for everything because I was so worried that things wouldn't get done. I was like, “Oh! Email that person, do that, do this, do that, do that!” Now if that's what you’re gonna be like, there's no point having staff because you end up doing all the work. I then adopted this different leadership style that I still use today and I'm really proud of, that's how work and that’s all about empowering people to take control.
Jack:
No one works for me they only work with me. And everyone in my organisation is a future player because we are playing towards the future. The future of their career and the future of the organisation.
Ben:
So by empowering your staff to take control and by producing a culture where everybody wants to put more energy in and want to be part of this mission that you're on it helps you to achieve success in the company a lot quicker. My focus is not What are you doing? but 'what can I do to support you?' As a leader of this business, What do you need extra to be able to get you to achieve the mission that you're on within the business?
So to recap, here’s some takeaway tips for budding entrepreneurs:
- Don’t be a mean person, but know when to stand your ground on important issues.
- Enjoy social time with your team, but draw the line at gossiping about your personal life with staff.
- It's possible to be friendly and strong-willed at the same time!
- Have confidence and be assertive - but there’s no need to be bossy.
- Remember that being a leader means making difficult decisions and having tricky conversations with people you work with.
- A boss is someone that you work for, and a leader is someone you work with.
- If you micro-manage people you will stifle their creativity and drive.
- Empowering your staff creates a positive culture and leads to bigger successes, more quickly.
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