Skills for startup founders

Look up the important skills of a startup founder and you’ll have a dizzying list of skills that you need to have to succeed. You wonder how anyone ever became successful and how some of the unicorn founders became so successful so early in their life, yet you’re here struggling.

What do they have that you don’t?

For some founders they may have been in the right place at the right time. While others may be young but they may have been working on their idea for a very long time. 

What are the skills that founders need to succeed?

Standard advice might suggest the ability to spot and hire great talent—surrounding yourself with the right people. Additionally, networking, sales, and financial skills are unanimously recognized as vital. Effective communication is particularly crucial, serving as the backbone of any burgeoning company.

However, the skills that truly propel founders forward often transcend conventional "management lingo," representing more inherent characteristics than teachable skills:

1. Resourcefulness: In the early stages of a startup, resources are often limited. The ability to maximize what you have and creatively solve problems without needing extensive resources is a defining trait of successful founders.

2. Vision: A clear, compelling vision is essential not only for guiding your startup through its growth phases but also for inspiring your team and attracting investors. A strong vision helps a founder maintain direction during challenging times.

3. Focus: Startups often operate in environments full of distractions and potential directions. The ability to focus on what truly matters — prioritizing tasks that drive the most value — is critical.

4. Grit: The startup journey is riddled with setbacks and failures. Grit, or the perseverance to continue despite difficulties, is often what separates successful startups from those that fold under pressure.

5. Patience and Resilience: Building a successful business takes time. Patience helps founders to see through long-term projects and endure the slow periods without losing motivation. Resilience allows them to bounce back from setbacks.

6. Open Mindedness: Remaining receptive to new ideas, feedback, and changes in the market can pivot a startup towards success. This flexibility can lead to innovative solutions and adaptations that are critical in the volatile startup landscape.

There is one skill that’s all in its own class. The one that’s not mentioned often but is so important as a startup founder:  

7. Show up every day: This is about consistency and commitment. Successful 

founders show up every day ready to tackle the challenges head-on, maintaining 

a steady presence that reassures and leads their team

For more on startup success, please go to the-startupideation.com