Starting a new business from scratch can be very exciting, but it can also produce a lot of anxiety. It takes long nights, startup capital and a lot of willpower to make it successful.
You also have to learn to live with uncertainty. When we test peoples’ emotional intelligence, we measure their flexibility as one of the predictors of success as an entrepreneur. It’s inevitable that things will change as you grow your business. You can’t plan for every possible disruption that comes your way; you have to roll with the punches. Things will change, so adapt or get left behind.
Take the time to listen and pay attention to what others are telling you. If you are unsure of what somebody really means, take the time to ask questions. Empathetic leaders are innovative leaders. Come up with a way to fill the void your customer doesn’t even realize they have.
Successful entrepreneurs excel at testing what works, what doesn’t and the realities they face. You need to be able to look at situations or opportunities and see them as they truly are. Don’t get lost in the details. Make sure you’re not looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. For some people, this comes with maturity, but for others it’s an acquired skill.
You also need to be a good problem solver. Problem solving is not just a matter of logically laying out the pros and cons of a situation, adding them up, and then forging ahead based on the numbers.
Entrepreneurs are risk takers. Many of the most successful ones have defied the odds, succeeding where others haven’t. You can accomplish this is by using your gut – your emotions – to take calculated risks.
All of these skills relate, in one way or another, to emotional intelligence. By developing your emotional intelligence you increase your chances of success as an entrepreneur.
Founder & CEO , MuseON | Founder @ Qkopy
