I’m not a natural leader. What do I do?

Building a business from the ground up is like building a house on a vacant block of land.

Get the plans right, get them “approved” by the right people, make sure you have got your timelines and cashflow sorted, and build on solid foundations.

You also need to surround yourself with people who know what they are doing, and believe in the project. One of the most important elements to all this is getting the people right.

In your new venture, surround yourself with people who believe in you, and don’t be afraid to engage people who know more than you in specialized fields. The concept of “being a leader” often frightens people – but you are not going into your new business venture to “be a leader”.

You are going into your new business venture because you have a dream, a goal, a belief, and a vision to do something new and something for yourself. If you can impart the substance of this message to your staff – and they believe in you – then you are a leader.

A good leader inspires people to have confidence in their leader; a great leader inspires people to have confidence in themselves. Share your vision, show the plans, have them approved by the right people, get your timelines and cashflow sorted, and define the importance of solid foundations – then let your people get to it.

As to the question of being a “natural leader”: I don’t believe any doctor has ever pulled a baby out of the birth canal and said, “Oh look, a leader!”

Leadership is a path. A quest. A journey. Read books and blogs, get a mentor, go to seminars, network, and teach yourself to think in every difficult situation, “What would a great leader do now?”

Now go forth and lead my friend!