Introduction: How to Be a Better Leader
Hey there, it’s Tanner Chidester, CEO of Elite CEOs. Let’s cut to the chase: ‘Boss’ is just a title unless you’re willing to get your hands dirty. In the entrepreneurial world, it’s not about commanding—it’s about learning how to be a better leader from the front lines.
Quick answer: How can a business owner become a better leader for their team?
Lead from the front lines, not from a title. Be the first one in and the last one out, and share the wins and the losses with your team. I have covered marketing, promotions, executive decisions and even security. A good boss serves the business first and is willing to wear every hat.
- The title of boss means little without hands on work beside your team.
- Be first in and last out, and share both the wins and the losses.
- In a startup, specialization is a luxury, so founders wear every hat.
- Serve the cause, the business and the team before you expect to lead them.
- Hire people who take the unpopular tasks and step up under pressure.
“It’s not about commanding—it’s about learning how to be a better leader from the front lines.”
The Real Meaning of Leadership
I’ve been there, in the trenches, covering every role imaginable. Marketing, promotions, executive decisions, and yes, even playing security when things go sideways. Leadership isn’t about sitting on a throne; it’s about being the first one in and the last one out. It’s about ensuring that if the team wins, you win, and if the team loses, you’re right there with them.
Wearing All the Hats
In the startup phase, you don’t have the luxury of specialization. You are the jack of all trades, master of none, and yet, somehow, you’ve got to make it work. That’s the grind that builds a company from the ground up. You’ll fly out, lay the groundwork, hit the clubs for promotions, and do whatever it takes.
The Honor of Being a Soldier
Before you can lead, you’ve got to serve. Being a soldier for your cause, for your business, for your team—that’s where the honor lies. It’s about recognizing that your role might change day-to-day. One day you’re the marketing whiz, the next you’re the troubleshooter.
How to Be a Better Leader: The Teamwork Ethos
When building a team, seek out those who embody this ethos. You want people who don’t shy away from the jobs nobody wants, who don’t balk at challenges, who step up when the going gets tough. These are the people who drive your business forward.
How to Be a Better Leader Conclusion: Embrace Every Role
As we chase success, let’s remember that being a boss is about more than just giving orders. It’s about being an honorable soldier first. It’s about teamwork and being ready to play whatever position is necessary for the win. So let’s put on those hats, embrace every role, and build teams that share this vision.
Until next time, stay grinding, stay leading, and remember—teamwork makes the dream work.
Frequently asked questions
What does it mean to lead from the front lines in a small business?
It means doing the work beside your team instead of only giving orders. I have handled marketing, promotions, executive decisions and even security. When the team sees the owner in the trenches, they trust the direction more. Be the first one in and the last one out, and take the losses alongside them, not just the wins.
Should startup founders do every job themselves?
Early on, yes. In a startup, specialization is a luxury you cannot afford yet. Founders handle the groundwork, the travel, the promotion and whatever else needs to get done to build the company from nothing. That experience also makes you a better boss later, because you understand every role you eventually hire for.
What qualities should you look for when hiring team members?
Look for people who take on the unpopular tasks without being asked. You want people who accept a challenge and step up when the pressure is on. Those are the people who actually move a business forward. Skills can be trained, but the willingness to do whatever the business needs is much harder to teach.
Why should a leader think of themselves as a soldier first?
Because before you can lead, you have to serve the cause, the business and the team. Roles shift every day in a growing company. You might go from marketing to troubleshooting in the same afternoon. A leader who sees themselves as a soldier embraces every role instead of waiting for someone else to handle it.
