12 lessons from good local bosses

1. Focus on solutions

“Never spend more than 10% of your energy on the problem and put 90% on finding solutions.” – Jonathan Léveillé, President, Openmind Technologies

2. Trust new employees

“Give your employees your trust from the moment they are hired and not strictly on merit.” – Jacques Coderre Lareau, trainer, C-DHO

3. Have confidence

"In every crisis, there are lessons learned, and even if sometimes we think we are going backwards, we are actually moving forward." Jonathan Léveillé, President, Openmind Technologies

4. Aim for balance

“Find the balance between listening and protecting your mental health as a manager. We must know how to set our limits and say no when necessary. Because behind every manager, there is a human being.” Catherine Dubé, co-entrepreneur, Coboom

5. Develop your team's potential

"We spend more than 2,000 hours a year at work. For me, being an entrepreneur means having the opportunity to use these 2,000 hours to help my employees achieve their dreams and develop both in their careers and in their lives." Guillaume Beaudin, President, Groupe 2C2B

6. Take action in the face of adversity

“It’s best to assume that there will be storms along the way and that the only things you can control are your attitude, your preparation, and your choice of human beings with whom you want to face them.” – Jonathan Léveillé, President, Openmind Technologies

7. Constantly evolving

“To stay relevant, you must not be afraid to evolve. It is important to have the courage to challenge yourself often to see if your practices or methods are the best possible.” Luc Bertrand, President, Accès Location +

8. Be the master of your time

“Never neglect your lifestyle or what is important to you just because you are busy. You are the master of your schedule, it is up to you to plan moments that cannot be moved (continuous improvement, training, family). Putting on your oxygen mask first is not a selfish gesture, it allows us to be 100% more efficient and present for others.” – Jonathan Léveillé, President, Openmind Technologies

9. Be authentic, rather than perfect

“Stop trying to be invincible. The day I stopped pretending to be invincible and showed my vulnerability, I felt like I was a full member of the team and not that person at the top of the hierarchy. I am not more or less important than any other member of the team. The victories we experience are the result of the efforts of each member of the team.” Maxime Jobin, WordPress Expert, Co-Founder, SatelliteWP

10. Grow your business

“Companies that last have learned to grow their team, delegate with confidence, integrate their employees and think long-term. Growing means sharing a vision of the future, while growing means thinking about profits without looking at your ecosystem. That’s why you have to think about growing rather than getting bigger.” Yves Delnatte, CEO, INEAT North America & Co Founder, Ineat

11. Make others shine

“Speak last.” This principle forces your team members to speak and actively participate in meetings. For my part, I try as best I can to randomly give the floor to each person during a meeting. This way, everyone speaks at a certain time. In addition, whether they come from an intern or a senior, ideas are heard and have the potential to be adopted.” Maxime Jobin, WordPress Expert, Co-Founder, SatelliteWP

12. Be optimistic, yet realistic

“Being optimistic is not just waking up in a good mood. It is having hope despite adversity and, above all, having confidence that there is a solution. The mindset with which we approach problems is essential. We must believe in ourselves and in our entrepreneurial adventure and then cultivate the certainty that challenges will become levers and opportunities to grow.” Valérie P. Labrèque, Founder and CEO, Garderie éducatif bilingue Babibulle

Where to start?

Be a good boss to yourself. Good managers see to their development, educate themselves and seek to improve in their role. After some time, I understood that you must first be good to yourself, in order to be kind to those around you. No one wants to follow a stressed and overwhelmed leader.