Leadership Lessons From The Best Entrepreneurs

Leadership cannot be defined as one specific trait or characteristic. It is a combination of traits and behaviors that makes someone a good leader and a respectable person. Some of the leading entrepreneurs of today have shown many such characteristics that make them worthy of the position they hold and influence the world to be a better place. Let’s take a look at some of the most inspirational qualities of leading entrepreneurs from around the world.

1. Do not forget where you belong – Sundar Pichai
Born and raised in a small town in Chennai, Pichai understands the importance of remembering where you come from even after becoming someone great. Till date, he always acknowledges his parent’s devotion and sacrifices they made for the sake of his education. Despite his various achievements, intelligence and dedication towards his work, he still remains the same curious little boy from India who wanted to explore the technology world.

2. Know when to let go – Sir Richard Branson
The founder of the Virgin Group and one of Britain’s richest people, Sir Richard Branson has advocated letting go of one brand in order to keep the rest of the organization healthy. In March last year, Alaska Airlines bought Virgin America and decided to retire the name of the company. Sir Branson realized the importance of letting Virgin America go despite having an emotional attachment with the company. In a letter addressed to the employees, he wrote, “As an entrepreneur’s brand, Virgin is always starting new businesses. And (sic) we will not stop.” It takes a lot of courage to start a company and build it, but it takes more than just courage to know when to stop and let go of something that is not working. Honor the process of building a company, but, more than that, honor the people who were a part of that journey. “This was the ride and love of a lifetime. I feel very lucky to have been on it with all of you.”

3. Lead By Example – Elon Musk
The CEO of not one but 3 successful companies SpaceX, The Boring Company and Tesla, Elon Musk has been constantly pushing the edge of reality. From launching the heaviest rocket ever carrying a car to making electric cars a luxury, Musk has been at the forefront of making things happen. He has always believed in changing the world through his tenacious work ethic and execution. No matter what your goal is, leaders need to develop a vision for where they would like to be and work until they reach their destination. “If you’re co founder or CEO you have to do all kinds of tasks you might not want to do. If you don’t do your chores, the company won’t succeed. No task is too menial.”

4. Evolve with the times – Anand Mahindra
CEO of Indian multinational conglomerate Mahindra Group, Anand Mahindra has positioned the company as one of India’s most respected and innovative companies around the world. The 60 year old CEO is very active on social media and believes in successfully making a connection with the younger generation on their turf. Despite belonging to the old school of corporate honchos, he thinks if you’re a hierarchical leader, if you’re bureaucratic and not empathetic, you’re going to be dead in the water. “Create a rich environment for growth – everyone’s growth. The person who is skilled enough to grab those nutrients is probably your future leader.”

5. Stick To Your Values – Azim Premji
A person is defined by their characteristics, values and ethics. A business is also defined by the kind of values and principals it follows. Azim Premji is also known for working the same way he leads his life. Values should form the core of the business as success in business eventually but inevitably follows. Stand by what you do and do not compromise under any situation. “Once you stand by what you believe in and don’t compromise with it under any circumstances; you become resilient to stand up to crisis.”

Let these’s world leaders inspire you to do better, be better and lead with pride.