Building a Team Like a True Leader

EIC MBM

Published on September 26, 2025

"True leaders don’t just give directions — they support, protect, and help their people grow."

Day 5 of Nava-aarambh: The Founder’s Journey is inspired by Goddess Skandamata, who represents caring and strong leadership. She reminds us that true leaders don’t just give directions — they support, protect, and help their people grow.

For student founders, this is one of the most important lessons: your biggest creation isn’t just your product, it’s your team.

Step 1: You Can’t Do Everything Alone

A startup begins with one idea, but it grows only with teamwork. No founder can manage product, marketing, sales, and customers all alone.

Example

A student started a campus thrift clothing store. At first, she handled everything herself — collecting clothes, posting online, delivering orders. Soon she was exhausted. When she asked two friends for help (one for marketing, one for deliveries), sales doubled in two weeks.

Lesson: Find people who share your passion, and don’t hesitate to delegate.

Step 2: Build Trust, Not Just Tasks

Leadership is not about being “the boss.” It’s about creating trust so people enjoy working with you.

Listen to your teammates.
Appreciate their efforts.
Share credit, don’t just take it.

Example

In a college hackathon, one team leader kept thanking his teammates after every small win. The morale was so high that even when their code failed, they kept pushing — and ended up winning second place.

Lesson: People don’t just work for ideas, they work for leaders who value them.

Step 3: Lead with Vision

Your team needs to know why they’re working with you. A clear vision keeps everyone motivated, especially when things get tough.

Example

A group of students started a campus delivery app. In the beginning, orders were low, and teammates thought of quitting. The founder reminded them: “We’re not just delivering food, we’re building a service that saves students time every single day.” That clarity gave them the push to continue.

Lesson: A leader paints the big picture so the team sees the purpose, not just the tasks.

Step 4: Grow Together

True leaders don’t just use people for work — they help them grow. Encourage teammates to take new roles, learn new skills, and own responsibilities.

Example

In a student-run magazine, one founder noticed her teammate loved design. She encouraged him to handle the entire magazine layout. That student later became a graphic designer professionally.

Lesson: When you help your teammates grow, your startup grows too.

Final Thoughts

A founder’s greatest creation is not just their company, but the team behind it. Lead with vision, nurture talent, and build trust. If your team feels supported and valued, they’ll stay by your side in every challenge — and together, you can win any battle.