Mitchell Russo Reveals the Essence of Leadership in Entrepreneurship
People often underestimate the need for being a leader if they wish to succeed as an entrepreneur.
However, the question of leadership, and how immensely significant it is for entrepreneurs and their startups, is a hot topic up for debate. Many speakers believe that a person must be a leader first before becoming an entrepreneur. Some may argue that it is apt to work in positions where valuable leadership skills can be attained and then transition into entrepreneurship. At the same time, others may favor focusing on the bigger picture. While the maven business coach Mitchell Russo believes that leadership is a skill that is mastered with time, yet you should focus on the outcomes.
Below, we conversed with the incredible business coach and expert entrepreneur who has empowered several individuals across the globe to tap into the essential aptitudes, defining their business vision and providing them with on-spot strategies to scale up their revenues. The Co-founder of Timeslips Corp, Mitchell Russo, has consulted with the provided consultation to reputed name, including Kevin Harrington of Shark Tank fame and to the President of Lucent Technologies, which a Fortune 10 company, enabling them to take their business next level.
For his tremendous contributions to the entrepreneur sector, Mitchell Russo was nominated twice for Inc. Magazine’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ award in 1989 and 1991, while running Timeslips. Significantly, Russo became the recipient of the ‘Best Entrepreneur’ award by The National Association of Legal Vendors, competing from the list of 4,000 other entries in 1989.
Russo favors none of the sides and believes that no one right neither wrong. “Personally, however, I believe that it is essential to cultivate the leadership mindset to equip you with the skills necessary for successful entrepreneurship,” he says.
Great Leaders Are Not Afraid to Be Vulnerable
The world is surrounded by the so-called “best” leaders who are stereotyped as having their eyes on the prize — and that is all they want. The definition of success in business has a cliché meaning, where the leader focuses on the dollar bills and being “in it to win it.” So, why should great leaders eschew this behavior in favor of being the stripped-down versions of themselves?
The notion of vulnerability is comparable to the one surrounding failure. Both of these are deemed to be an indication of weaknesses. Russo emphasizes that being vulnerable is a sign of emotions and represents that you are human. Imagine a leader who has exposed the facade that the world maintains and shatters all the stereotypes surrounding the ‘oh so perfect,’ image of leaders. “Think about the leaders you know who do not get hard on themselves, who embrace their mistakes. You probably would be inspired by them for being so open and candid. The truth is that these leaders have managed to win your trust by showing their vulnerability and believe me; it is not at all a sign of weakness. In fact, vulnerability is all that makes great leaders, by making them understand the learning process and know that growth is pivotal to becoming great entrepreneurs,” he says.
Great Leaders Do Not Believe in One Man Show
The perception about the team extends beyond the phrase “there’s no ‘I’ in the team.” Russo stresses that cultivating teamwork habits means removing the element of self from your being. “It is all about putting your team first before your own selfish self. Great leaders concentrate first to help their team members learn and grow, contribute to their day-to-day success, and inspire them to keep thinking outside of the box,” he says.
With the progression of time, this teamwork capability encourages the leaders to produce a culture of innovation in their workplace. This can be passed down later on to entrepreneurial roles because there has already been such a significant investment of time in your team. All in all, the leadership skills serve to bolster your role as an entrepreneur.
“If you desire to become a flawless entrepreneur running a successful business setup, it is essential to possess certain skills such as time management, people management, and decision making beforehand, and only being at the leadership positions can help you become a true entrepreneur,” says Mitchell Russo.