Last week, something simple happened that reminded me why I love being a leader. My flower seeds finally arrived after a month of waiting. The next morning, my team and I headed out to plant them together under the hot sun.
Yes, it was exhausting. Yes, we were all sweating. But we laughed, we talked, and we got the job done as a team.
Some people ask me: “Why do you still work in the field with your team? You’re the boss now. You could just tell them what to do.”
Here’s my answer: Real leadership isn’t about sitting in an office. It’s about being there with your people.
Let me share where I learned this.
My Leadership Journey Started in 2008
Back in 2008, I wasn’t a business owner. I was a gardener and landscape decorator, doing simple work like planting flowers and sweeping leaves.
But I had an amazing boss. He taught me five leadership principles that completely changed my life. These lessons helped me build trust with my own team, and I still use them every single day.
If you’re looking for leadership tips for entrepreneurs or want to know how to motivate your team as a leader, these five principles will help you.
5 Leadership Principles That Actually Work
1. Lead by Example (Show Up and Do the Hard Work)
Real leaders don’t just give orders. They work alongside their team.
My old boss did something special. No matter which department you worked in or what job you were doing, he would come down from his office to check on everyone. He asked questions. He chatted with us. He cared.
I remember one day I was completely exhausted from working in the heat. When he came by and smiled at me, asking how I was doing, I felt encouraged to keep going.
That’s when I learned: Your presence matters more than your words.
Today, I still follow this principle. When my team plants flowers, I’m right there with them. When there’s a difficult task, I join in. This is one of the most important effective leadership skills you can develop.
How you can apply this:
- Don’t just manage from a distance.
- Join your team during tough projects.
- Show them you’re willing to do what you ask them to do.
2. Listen with Care (Your Team Has Great Ideas)
Good leaders talk. Great leaders listen.
Here’s a story that stuck with me forever.
One day in 2008, I was sweeping leaves and trash in the garden. I was tired, so instead of sweeping in one direction like most people, I swept left and right, left and right.
My boss walked over and asked, “Why are you sweeping like that? Most people sweep in one direction.”
I was nervous. I thought he was upset. But I answered honestly: “It saves energy when I’m tired.”
He smiled and said, “That’s great! You know how to think for yourself!”
In that moment, he taught me something powerful: Everyone on your team has valuable ideas, even if they seem small.
How you can apply this:
- Ask your team for their opinions.
- Don’t assume you always know the best way.
- Celebrate creative thinking, even in simple tasks.
This is one of the best leadership lessons for entrepreneurs because when you listen to your team, they feel valued and work harder.
3. Invest in Their Growth (Help Them Build a Future)
True leaders don’t just use their team. They develop them.
Every Saturday and Sunday, my boss would bring drinks and water for everyone. Sometimes he joked around with us. Other times, he gave us serious advice about life and work.
One piece of advice changed my mindset forever. He said, “If you have real knowledge, even a rotten piece of wood can be turned into money.”
He meant that with the right skills and effort, anything is possible. He wasn’t just managing us for today. He was investing in our future.
How you can apply this:
- Teach your team new skills.
- Share knowledge freely
- Help them see their career path, not just their current job.
When you invest in people’s growth, they stay loyal and work with passion. This is how you truly motivate your team as a leader.
4. Show Humanity (Remember They’re People, Not Machines)
Your team members have lives outside of work. Remember that.
Whenever someone on our team got sick, my boss always helped pay for their medicine. He reduced their workload so they could recover without stress.
He understood something important: Taking care of your people makes them want to take care of your business.
In today’s world, work-life balance matters more than ever. If you want to practice effective leadership skills, you need to show real care for your team’s well-being.
How you can apply this:
- Be flexible when personal emergencies happen.
- Check in on team members who seem stressed or tired.
- Create an environment where people feel safe asking for help.
5. Encourage and Reward (Celebrate Every Win)
People need to know they’re doing a good job.
My boss didn’t give us physical rewards like bonuses or gifts. But he gave us something better: genuine encouragement and specific praise.
When someone did good work, he would tell them exactly what they did well. This made us feel seen and appreciated.
I learned that recognition costs nothing but means everything.
How you can apply this:
- Notice both small and big achievements.
- Be specific with your praise (not just “good job”)
- Celebrate progress, not just final results.
Why These Leadership Lessons Still Matter Today
These five leadership principles changed my life. They helped me go from being a gardener in 2008 to running my own business today.
More importantly, they helped me build a team that trusts me and works together with real passion.
Leadership lessons from real-life experience are always more valuable than lessons from books. These aren’t theories. These are principles I’ve lived and tested for years.
How to Start Applying These Leadership Lessons
If you want to become a better leader, start small:
- This week: Work alongside your team on at least one task
- This month: Ask each team member for their ideas and actually implement one
- This quarter: Invest time in teaching someone a new skill
- Every day: Notice when someone does good work and tell them
Remember, effective leadership skills develop over time. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be present, caring, and consistent.
Final Thoughts: Leadership Is About People
That day when we planted flower seeds under the hot sun, I could have stayed in the office. I could have just given instructions.
But I chose to be there with my team. And that choice makes all the difference.
Real leadership isn’t about power or position. It’s about serving your people, listening to them, investing in them, caring for them, and celebrating them.
These are the leadership tips for entrepreneurs that actually work in real life, not just in theory.
So here’s my question for you: What kind of leader do you want to be?
Start with these five principles. They worked for me, and they can work for you, too.
