What’s the biggest risk facing leaders of most entrepreneurial ventures? It’s not closing that first round of funding or landing a cornerstone customer. As with most things, it all comes back to people—and your ability to lead those who don’t have much practice following.

It’s easy to get seduced by the investors, the technology, the contracts, and the customers. It’s even easier to focus on those things when you don’t want to take on the challenge of leading a green team. But, in the end, it’s your people who hold the fate of your venture in their hands, and leading them well may be the most important work you do.

Whether you earned your stripes in corporate America or as a serial entrepreneur, you carry many embedded assumptions about the way people should follow their leaders. Unfortunately, no one has ever explained that to the members of your team. That’s your job. You have to teach them how to be good followers and team members.

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