There is just one way to lead a team to success: by believing in the positive energy of each individual. Doing so sometimes leads to the wrong path. An important moment comes with the next project. A confident team which knows that experimentation is allowed and failures are not punished will be amazingly innovative.

Focus is not what you do, but what you choose not to do. Startup CEO Kristo Ovaska learned the hard way to say “No”. He now declines long meetings, non-vital emails, external press requests, speaking engagements, and investor contacts that are not yet needed. This has brought about an entirely new level of productiveness.

When employees doubt their abilities, it might be interpreted as a sign of weakness but can be a question of preparation. They might be your strongest employees. How you as the leader encourage them to take the assignment makes all the difference. Watch the video to learn three useful responses.

Culture and values are a top responsibility for CEOs of both start-up companies and large corporations. A company with a strong and consistent culture requires less command-and-control management and empowers employees to take initiative, innovate, and serve customers well, says Fadi Ghandour.