Does an Entrepreneur Have to Be a Leader?

**Hooman** · 10-16-2007 09:49 PM

Please discuss.

I've been debating this in my own head for some time, and I'm curious to know what your thoughts are.

Thanks.

**akula** · 10-16-2007 10:26 PM

omg, halleluja, let's all jump up and lead people

**Hooman** · 10-16-2007 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by akula

omg, halleluja, let's all jump up and lead people

I take it that's a no.

Why the sarcasm though? I asked a simple question...

The reason is I'm at the point where I'm trying to hire 1-2 people (1 for customer service, 1 for shipping) to help me with my eBay business as I expand it. In school, we do group activities, and I don't really emerge as a leader in those situations. It kind of made me question whether I am a leader or not in my own business. I've never hired anyone before, and I know it will be more managing than leading, but it kind of made me question if I should even hire them or not. Maybe I should just keep at it alone.

**criniit** · 10-16-2007 11:25 PM

Hmm..its an intresting question... I think it really depends on what the entrepreneur is doing, I think more importanly an entrepreneur needs to be a salesman, of course to do anything in life you have to be a salesman, whether your selling a product an idea or yourself, everyone is always selling something.

** Just saw your edit...

Remember a leader is made not born...You can learn to lead, I wouldn't let that stand in the way of you expanding your business. Just have confidence in yourself and you won't have any problems.

**suav** · 10-16-2007 11:27 PM

Originally Posted by NorKal

The reason is I'm at the point where I'm trying to hire 1-2 people (1 for customer service, 1 for shipping) to help me with my eBay business as I expand it. In school, we do group activities, and I don't really emerge as a leader in those situations. It kind of made me question whether I am a leader or not in my own business. I've never hired anyone before, and I know it will be more managing than leading, but it kind of made me question if I should even hire them or not. Maybe I should just keep at it alone.

What do you sell on eBay?
And I'd stay as small (staff-wise) as possible in your business.. until your sure you need help.

**radreality** · 10-16-2007 11:28 PM

I don't think you HAVE TO be a leader or possess those characteristics, but it certainly helps.

There are many characteristics that will hold someone back from achieving their full potential, and leadership is one of them.

It’s important to know your weaknesses, so that way you know what you need to work on and you know who need to have around you to fill in the gaps.

______________________________
Robert Falk
Business Developer / Investor
RADReality.com

**hustlershope23** · 10-16-2007 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by criniit

Hmm..its an intresting question... I think it really depends on what the entrepreneur is doing, I think more importanly an entrepreneur needs to be a salesman, of course to do anything in life you have to be a salesman, whether your selling a product an idea or yourself, everyone is always selling something.

** Just saw your edit...

Remember a leader is made not born...You can learn to lead, I wouldn't let that stand in the way of you expanding your business. Just have confidence in yourself and you won't have any problems.

I beg to differ, leaders seem to be born. They seem to have intrinsic qualities that cause people to gravitate to them, and to trust them. However, one can be a great businessman and advisor along the lines of a Tom Hagen type.

**akula** · 10-17-2007 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by criniit

Remember a leader is made not born...You can learn to lead, I wouldn't let that stand in the way of you expanding your business. Just have confidence in yourself and you won't have any problems.

no need to bait the thread for peripheral controversy...please keep freshman management 101 the hell away from here :-)

**criniit** · 10-17-2007 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by hustlershope23

I beg to differ, leaders seem to be born. They seem to have intrinsic qualities that cause people to gravitate to them, and to trust them. However, one can be a great businessman and advisor along the lines of a Tom Hagen type.

It's true that some people are born that way, but my experience in the army has shown me that great leaders can be made. Before I went into the army I believed that leaders were born not made, but I have seen to many examples of people becoming leaders not just being born one.

**criniit** · 10-17-2007 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by akula

no need to bait the thread for peripheral controversy...please keep freshman management 101 the hell away from here :-)

Last time I looked managment courses are upper level

**akula** · 10-17-2007 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by NorKal

I take it that's a no.

Why the sarcasm though? I asked a simple question...

The reason is I'm at the point where I'm trying to hire 1-2 people (1 for customer service, 1 for shipping) to help me with my eBay business as I expand it. In school, we do group activities, and I don't really emerge as a leader in those situations. It kind of made me question whether I am a leader or not in my own business. I've never hired anyone before, and I know it will be more managing than leading, but it kind of made me question if I should even hire them or not. Maybe I should just keep at it alone.

well...let me give you some feedback which might solve your problem..

you wanna put together a buisineness with other people....you don't feel that you "really emerge as a leader" and so you're questioning whether you're qualified to be the ceo for this and other ventures

from the venture capital point of view, this perspective would be correct. ceos who can't lead are bad ceo's and some entrepreneurs are unsuitable for leading their companies...in fact most entrepreneurs are unsuitable for managing their startups...simply put, entrepreneurs make bad managers..and good managers make bad founders

the point: just because you're not a good ceo, doesn't mean you can't benefit from entrepreneurship by being a good founder. the two roles are diffrent. founders don't necessarily have to be good leaders....so yeah...entrepreneurship is a complex discipline, it requires people with all kinds of diffrent skillsets..if you don't have the skills to be a good leader, there are plenty of other startup roles where the skills you do have will be appreciated

just look at the case studies...pick a random sample of sucessful startups (i.e. google) and see if their founders stayed on to be ceo's and lead the company..you will find that such instances are pretty rare..I guess the answer to your question is no....the reason for the answer is that when venture capitalists screen their investees, they look for a great team of people, but it's not necessary for the team to have a great leader...often, the availability of a great leader on the team becommes problematic

is this making sense?

**Hooman** · 10-17-2007 12:42 AM

Thanks for your responses/insight.

Originally Posted by akula

well...let me give you some feedback which might solve your problem..

you wanna put together a buisineness with other people....you don't feel that you "really emerge as a leader" and so you're questioning whether you're qualified to be the ceo for this and other ventures

That's pretty much exactly what I was thinking.

Originally Posted by akula

from the venture capital point of view, this perspective would be correct. ceos who can't lead are bad ceo's and some entrepreneurs are unsuitable for leading their companies...in fact most entrepreneurs are unsuitable for managing their startups...simply put, entrepreneurs make bad managers..and good managers make bad founders

the point: just because you're not a good ceo, doesn't mean you can't benefit from entrepreneurship by being a good founder. the two roles are diffrent. founders don't necessarily have to be good leaders....so yeah...entrepreneurship is a complex discipline, it requires people with all kinds of diffrent skillsets..if you don't have the skills to be a good leader, there are plenty of other startup roles where the skills you do have will be appreciated

just look at the case studies...pick a random sample of sucessful startups (i.e. google) and see if their founders stayed on to be ceo's and lead the company..you will find that such instances are pretty rare..I guess the answer to your question is no....the reason for the answer is that when venture capitalists screen their investees, they look for a great team of people, but it's not necessary for the team to have a great leader...often, the availability of a great leader on the team becommes problematic

is this making sense?

Yeah, thanks for that explanation and the link. I'll read into it...so I guess it's not just me, that's a little bit relieving.

**akula** · 10-17-2007 12:53 AM

yeah man...

the trick for you is to pinpoint your own strengths and party with people who compliment your weknesses (i.e. assertiveness/organisation/leadership/presentation skills)...because those guys also have weaknesses which your strengths will compliment

**radreality** · 10-17-2007 01:42 AM

Originally Posted by radreality

I don't think you HAVE TO be a leader or possess those characteristics, but it certainly helps.

There are many characteristics that will hold someone back from achieving their full potential, and leadership is one of them.

It’s important to know your weaknesses, so that way you know what you need to work on and you know who need to have around you to fill in the gaps.

______________________________
Robert Falk
Business Developer / Investor
RADReality.com

very true, good point, lol.

**maven** · 10-17-2007 08:05 PM

The key to success in any business is leverage. Find smart talented people that have the talents/skills that you lack and create relationships with them. That's called leverage. That's what builds any successful team or company.

“I would rather have one percent of 100 people's efforts than 100 percent of my own.”
— Andrew Carnegie