Starting your own business is something that requires not only marketing and business strategy savvy, as well as management skills, but also a natural charisma that most successful entrepreneur’s exhibit. It seems that nowadays many CEO’s are hiring coaches to teach them how to be more charismatic and approachable. It’s rather hysterical when one thinks about it because you either have it, or you don’t. There is nothing wrong with trying to learn the qualities of successful entrepreneurs, but then you need to realise that it’s not a once off thing. Charisma towards staff and clients needs to be practised all the time.
Successful Entrepreneurs
There are many business success stories and the most notable businessman with bucket loads of charm is Richard Branson. He is the epitome when thinking of examples of successful entrepreneurs.
Starting a new business venture means enticing investors to come on board and invest in your business or product. Risky business means working harder to get investors on board. The problem comes in when managers and CEO’s believe that it’s all about directing that flashy smile and charm at only investors and clients, while staff fall by the wayside. Richard Branson treats his staff well because he knows that they are the backbone of his industry and without them, the company will easily flounder. His approach to being a successful entrepreneur is legendary, and they way he treats his staff is the definition of managerial brilliance.
Other traits of great business minds include treating staff like business partners and including them in the company success. This is due to many entrepreneurs who wore many hats during the start-up of their companies before handing the reigns over to hired employees. They know what it takes to keep clients happy and they know the slogging and slaving involved in keeping companies afloat. Successful entrepreneurs respect what their staff do for the business and incentivise and reward the work accordingly; with genuine smiles and handshakes.
There are some examples of successful CEO’s who were not at all charismatic but turned their businesses into booming empires. Steve Jobs was apparently a hard man to like, but he took Apple to new heights. In this case it was largely the product that did all the work. His personality didn’t have to sell what is considered a genius invention. This proves that you don’t have to be an extrovert to make a company work, but it does help to have a bit of coaching if your product is not an Apple computer. Charisma and humility almost seem to be the dream recipe for successful entrepreneurs.
Vida Denning is a freelance writer researching office space Birmingham, while she intermittently reads her Richard Branson book.