Leaders are more than managers. A leader doesn’t only know how to run a business; a leader also understands how to get the best out of the primary business asset, a.k.a. the employees. You need to think about the leader as a catalyst that brings the strengths of the company together to create something powerful and positive.

As a consequence, successful leaders need to understand the personal side of the company as it’s where they will be able to assess their beneficial influence.

They care about people

The first rule that all leaders need to obey is to care about the people around them. Indeed, every member of your team matters, and consequently, you need to learn to treat everyone the same, regardless of their skills, job title or social standing. At the heart of it, you can’t expect your team to respect your leadership if you differentiate employees or grant preferential treatment to some but not others. Accepting that those around you have opinions, fears, worries, questions and that all input is valuable will make a significant difference to your professional relationships.

They never stop learning

You might have been an expert in your niche when you first started, but it doesn’t mean that you know everything there is to know in your sector. Indeed, while you can rely on your team to tackle day-to-day tasks, as a leader, you need to ensure that you’re always in touch with your market. A leader who doesn’t understand the latest trends risks driving the company to a standstill. Instead, you can regularly update your skills using online learning programs – If you unsure where to start, take a look at the Illinois Aspire review for Skillshare which explains the advantages of skills cultivation within the Skillshare community. From discovering new web design approaches to exploring the benefits of creative writing, the more you know about your market, the more relevant your leadership will be.

They are not afraid to ditch old ideas

Leading is about keeping a foot in today’s market and an eye on the horizon to spot the changes before anybody else. As a result, successful leaders need to know when it’s time to abandon old strategies. For many, it’s a difficult task, as you might be tempted to hang onto your ideas for as long as possible. But ultimately, moving forward is about evolving. Steve Jobs was, by far, one of the most admired leaders for his abilities to get rid of loveable technologies and strategies that he knew were not going to be profitable anymore. In 2002, he organized the funerals of Mac OS9, a tongue-in-cheek presentation in which he encouraged his team to look toward the future.

They listen to others

Last, but not least, leading doesn’t mean you’re right all the time. If you want to establish your position as a respectable leader, you need to be open to criticism and comments from your team. Listening to others can help you to avoid costly mistakes and miss opportunities.

The question for many entrepreneurs is not whether you’ve got what it takes to drive your company to success but whether you can do what your team need to lead them to success. Leaders are above all carers who are not afraid to admit they don’t know everything and to take their team through strategic transformations. Lead not only with business know-how but also with respect, humility and innovative creativity.