How My Team Inspired Me to Become More Grounded

In my previous posts, I have often spoken about how my understanding of entrepreneurship didn’t come from books, courses, or formal training. It came from going through the grind and doing the actual work.?

But apart from the work itself, I think the lion’s share of my learning happened through my interactions with people–people that I met along this journey. While I have learnt countless lessons from clients, partners, and fellow entrepreneurs, some of my most defining moments of growth as a leader have come from my own team.

Aristotle rightly said, “He who cannot be a good follower cannot be a good leader.” So today, I would like to share a couple of key moments of grounding that I experienced with my team that completely changed my worldview. These moments not only made me evolve as a leader and entrepreneur but also transformed me as a human being!?

Burnout: My Team Saw the Signs Before I did

I will never forget the early years of my entrepreneurial journey when I constantly felt the need to prove myself.?

Every project, every pitch, and every deadline became an excuse for me to overwork at the expense of my physical and emotional health.

The result? Burnout.?

I became irritable and lacked the energy to try new things while relegating self-care to the back burner. Yet, strangely enough, I wasn’t the one who noticed it first.

Apart from my husband, it is my team that noticed that with each passing day, I was stretching myself way too thin. When they approached me about it and gently reminded me to strike a balance between life and work, a profound realization hit me: they are not just my team anymore, they have become my second family.?

Like a family member, they care about me and notice the smallest details about me and my life. So I took their advice and decided to take better care of myself while maintaining laser focus at work. But above all, I will never forget to thank the universe for having such a caring team in my corner. Working with them is a privilege, and together, they have turned our workplace into my home away from home!

A High-Stakes Decision: The Strength of Collective Wisdom

A few years ago, I remember struggling with a very challenging decision.?

A client had requested at the last minute to add significantly more deliverables but was not willing to give us the extra time (and money) to make it happen.

It was an impossible demand, and I kept mulling it over day and night, as the client was very important to our business. That’s when one of my team members asked what was going on, as she felt I had not been myself for the last few days.?

However, back then, I used to hold everything close to my chest. My apprehension was that sharing my problems would demoralize my team and reduce their trust in me.?

But when I finally explained the situation to her that day, she opened my eyes to certain possibilities that had escaped my mind before. Soon, on her suggestion, we included the whole team in the discussion and came up with a solution that worked well for both the client and ourselves.?

As an entrepreneur, it was an eye-opening experience for me as it demonstrated to me the power of collective intelligence like never before. Sometimes when we are too close to a problem, we tend to overthink, and our mind goes around in circles. In such a state, solutions are hard to come by.?

However, that day I understood more clearly than ever before that the answer often lies in throwing the room open to everyone involved!

Closing Thoughts: The Difference Between a Boss and a Leader

Today, I can proudly say that my team is my source of inspiration, and I, in turn, have gained their deepest trust and confidence. Studies show that employee engagement is heavily impacted (70%) by trust in leadership!?

But trust is a two-way street, and by treating each other like family, we ensure that we always have each other’s backs. With their support, I have learnt to walk the fine line between being a boss and becoming a true leader. As George E.M. Kelly rightly said, “Remember the difference between a boss and a leader. A boss says, Go! A leader says, Let's go!”?

Has your team ever been instrumental in grounding you as a leader? I am eager to know! Share your stories in the comments below.

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