Keys to effective Leadership A few key points that I believe make a great leader are: - The ability to inspire people, even in the most adverse of situations. Teams look to their leader to not just provide day-to-day answers, but for recognition and belief in their ability to do better. Inspiring people to excellence is a big part of effective leadership. - Leading by example. Every so often, I believe leaders are required to roll up their sleeves and put a shoulder to the grindstone along with their team. - The ability to buffer the team from the regular challenges of running a business. Especially in crises, a leader should be able to deliver the message to their team so that they understand the challenge and have a clear idea of what steps to take to get past it. Leaders do not transmit problems, but filter them Thoughts on consistent leadership performance
It's important to reevaluate performance metrics across the board--financial, procedural and personal. These goals have to be regularly defined and aligned with changing market and business environments.
Unique way to motivate My biggest motivation comes from the sheer joy of creating something--be it integrating a new service into the website or cracking a persistent challenge. I found the best way to motivate people is to clearly tell them how to carry out their particular role most efficiently, give them complete ownership of it, and step back. Let them get into it and experience firsthand the excitement of learning and achievement. Only get involved if the process is not working as expected, and when you do help them realize what it is that's causing the speed breaker.
Evolution of your leadership role I was blessed to have worked in fledgling teams that had fantastic leaders. I think my role as a leader has evolved from a time when I felt compelled to get into every aspect of the team's functioning, to a state now when I'd much rather arm people with knowledge and clarity, and leave them to achieve the outcome the best way they see fit.
Being a leader: Ensure to take Right Decisions Like I mentioned earlier, I believe it's about being keenly aware of performance metrics and tracking them regularly. Look for signs of impending bottlenecks and preempt these by modifying plans and strategies.
Role model Business gurus like Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, for portraying how important it is to believe in a dream and spend every waking moment pursuing it even in the face of regular setbacks.
Valuable work lesson Stems from one of Steve Jobs' quotes: "Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected."
Achievement There are many small things that I'm proud of over the course of starting my company. But I believe the 'one big thing' is still to come.
Future forecast I'd be very happy if consumers everywhere turn to SpotMyGadget.com for all their technology buying needs, while simultaneously interacting with us on our journey toward evolving this service into a truly ubiquitous and meaningful decision making tool.
Macroeconomic variable A key variable we track is 'Ever-changing technology usage trends that interest consumers most'--from wireless broadband access to the propensity of shopping online versus online etc.
One good way to foster innovation First ask the question, "Wouldn't it be great if I had this service" or "Is there a better and faster way to achieve this goal?". Then figure out how to answer these questions using currently available tools and approaches. If these aren't readily available, create them.
Means to achieve success during adversity As a startup we encounter challenges each and every day. But these setbacks needn't be an end point--looking at them from a different perspective they're basically just indicators to a different way of reaching a goal. After all, if there were no challenges the whole world would be filled with happy millionaires!
If get a chance to go back and change something I'd have started my company several years earlier.
Thoughts on leadership and management A verse that never fails to inspire me--a handwritten note that was found in the room of Mother Teresa after she passed away:
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway. If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway. What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway. Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway. In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them... anyway.
