New Google study: all effective leaders do these things

Google for Startups, the arm of the search behemoth dedicated to supporting high-growth startups, just wrapped up a massive research project digging into some of the traits of successful founders.

They protect the team from distractions

Is finding your focus easy in the wide open, rapidly changing world of startups? Absolutely not, but Google insists that if leaders want to be effective, it’s a skill they have to learn. “While CEOs are often seen as distracted by new ideas, the best ones create focus and clarity on what really matters,” says Google. “Set clear goals and priorities to build momentum for your team. This in turn fuels better performance and morale.”

They minimize unnecessary micromanagement

It’s no shock that micromanagement isn’t good management in a great many contexts, but Google’s new research underlines the point: “Our data suggests micromanaging can be a major derailer, especially for CEOs. Recognize which teammates need to be closely supervised, and which you can empower to make good decisions and operate independently.”

They invite disagreement

On this point Google is in alignment with a whole host of super successful founders. “Our data suggests founders consistently undervalue inviting opinions that are different from their own, while co-founders and teammates rate it highly,” Google notes, highlighting that “disagreement among diverse teams actually leads to more effective outcomes.”

They keep pace with expertise

People skills are essential for success, but don’t be lulled into thinking technical chops don’t matter. Google found they do. A lot. “Ninety-three percent of the most effective founders have the technical expertise to effectively manage the work, and make time to stay ahead of their industry,” the research found.