6. Playing to your strengths

Your business is your playing field. You set the rules.

You'll never have a better opportunity to fashion roles for yourself and your fellow leaders. Look to bring in and develop people whose skills, experience and values complement your own, so that you can concentrate on what you do best. It doesn't matter what it is. There is no golden rule that every founder ends up as Chairman or Chief Executive. If you should be in charge of Sales, Finance or R&D, or if your skills point to a role that nobody had quite thought of before, go for it. Play to your strengths.