Leadership Qualities for Entrepreneurs.

The beginning of a calendar year always seems to invite an air of contemplation. Perhaps you’re reminiscing about the big things that happened in 2022, reminiscing about a vacation well spent, or making a mental list of all the things you don’t want to repeat in the new year.

Looking back on the past inevitably leads to thoughts of the future. For entrepreneurs and CEOs, January is a particularly good time to get ideas for his 2023. Whether it’s your financial goals, your plans for a new project, or your thoughts on how to better manage your team.

With that in mind, we decided to ask various entrepreneurs from the 1000+ Stories project what leadership qualities business owners should aspire to in the new year.

Their thoughtful responses reflect the integrity led by so many female business owners these days. There is also a clear value of integrity in the zeitgeist, and mission-driven companies and CEOs must embody the principles they claim to represent.

With 2023 just around the corner, here are some of the qualities you should consider bringing.

1. Credibility

Lauren Caggiano, founder of New Heights Fitness, an entry-level gym in Fort Wayne, Indiana, says authentic quality is essential in today’s climate. Authenticity means “appearing as a human being as a whole rather than compartmentalizing, and being honest about your struggles.”

Caggiano recently battled cancer and decided to be open about his struggles while running his business. “Sharing this aspect of my life has paid off in terms of deepening relationships with her clients and partners,” she says.

2. Compassion

Understanding and appreciating others, especially employees and colleagues, makes compassion an important quality for founders. “There’s nothing more humble than being an entrepreneur,” says Brittany Coleman, her CEO of Tough Cutie, her line of hiking socks designed for women, based in Austin, Texas. says.

When Coleman launched his business in 2019, he learned that it didn’t matter how long he logged in. I needed help growing my business. “You need other people to get you where you want to be, and that requires working with others and being grateful, so they show up for you when it matters.”

3. Curiosity

Entrepreneurship comes with a steep learning curve, so curiosity and a willingness to learn are key qualities a CEO should possess. Alexandra Schumann, founder of Barometer XP in Washington, DC, uses games and play to build a stronger workplace culture. “A lot of leadership has to navigate situations that are completely new to them, and they have to remain confident and effective while doing so,” she says.

This quality also helps when you literally don’t know what to do. “Curiosity helps leaders recognize what they don’t already know and facilitate their search for information,” says Schumann. “Curiosity also fuels creative thinking about how to utilize other people and resources in new ways.”

4. grace

Sometimes a little kindness, understanding and general goodwill can go a long way. “We live in a noisy and increasingly demanding world,” says Lauren D’Souza, founder of Ujjo, a line of hot sauces for coffee and other beverages. “So it’s easy to fall into the mindset of not always doing enough.”

So the leadership quality that comes to mind for Columbus, Ohio-based entrepreneurs is grace. She says, “Showing yourself grace allows you to thrive without obsessing over perfection. This benefits your business, your customers, and yourself.”