We asked 12 successful founders from the Young Entrepreneur Council which traits they believe--above all others--define great start-up leaders. After all, passion is one thing--but what actually makes a good leader great? Their best answers are below.
1. Flexibility
"No plan survives contact with the enemy." This variation on German Field Marshall Helmuth von Moltke's original quote could not be more true. Leaders of start-ups need to be flexible and be able to alter (or even throw out) plans as their business rolls forward. And they need to be able to do it without getting angry, stressed, or insulted. Emotions like that from a leader crush company morale. --Matt Peters, Pandemic Labs
2. Humility
Whenever the company fails, it should also be the leader's fault. Whenever the company succeeds, it should also be the employees' fault. Your employees are not a vehicle to fund your ego. If you run a company, your employees are now your customers--and your top priority should be to serve their needs, not your own. --Liam Martin, Staff.com
3. Focus
