How to Lead When You’re Still Figuring Things Out
Let’s get real for a moment. Most business owners are making it up as they go. You launch your venture with a spark of vision, a lot of determination, and maybe a little naïve confidence. Then suddenly, the dream grows. You’re not just responsible for yourself anymore — you have clients depending on your delivery, employees relying on your direction, and systems that won’t run themselves.
And you’re expected to lead.
But here’s the kicker: what if you’re still learning yourself? What if you don’t have all the answers? What if some days you feel more like a participant in the chaos than the one calling the shots?
Good news: leadership doesn’t require perfection. You don’t need a complete roadmap or decades of experience. You need intention, honesty, and systems that let you show up consistently. You need to lead on purpose, even while figuring things out.
Let’s dive into what that actually looks like in practice.
Leadership Starts With Clarity — Even When Confidence Wavers
It’s a common misconception that leaders must have all the answers. In reality, leadership is less about knowing and more about direction-setting. Your team doesn’t need you to be omniscient. They need you to communicate priorities clearly.
Start with these basics:
What matters this week? Be explicit about deadlines, focus areas, and priorities.
What does success look like? Share measurable outcomes or examples, so everyone knows when a task is “done.”
What should each team member focus on? Avoid vague instructions. Ambiguity leads to disengagement or misaligned effort.
For instance, imagine you run a small digital marketing agency. You might not know exactly how to land a new client, but you can be crystal clear on the content your team needs to produce, the proposals that must go out, and the metrics to track. Clarity is your anchor. Confidence can follow, but without clarity, even the best ideas falter.
Uncertainty is normal. Confusion is deadly. When people don’t know what’s expected, panic sets in, tasks stall, and momentum dies. By leading with clear priorities, you reduce chaos and make space for problem-solving, innovation, and learning.
Embrace “I Don’t Know” — Then Solve It Together
Pretending to have all the answers might seem like leadership. In reality, it’s a trust killer. People notice when you’re faking it — and it erodes confidence faster than mistakes ever could.
Instead, try a different approach:
Be honest about what you’re figuring out.
Invite your team into the process.
Encourage collaborative problem-solving.
For example, a small startup founder might say, “I don’t know the best way to streamline our invoicing, but let’s brainstorm together and test a couple of options.” This approach signals transparency and encourages participation. Suddenly, leadership isn’t about being perfect. It’s about guiding, learning, and improving together.
Being honest about gaps doesn’t undermine authority. It builds trust. Your team sees that you can assess situations, make decisions responsibly, and admit when more information is needed. That’s a hallmark of strong, authentic leadership.
Lead Through Behavior, Not Buzzwords
You don’t need to memorize leadership mantras or post motivational quotes to be effective. Real leadership shows itself in how you behave, not what you say. Your team watches how you respond under pressure, handle mistakes, and interact with others. Culture is caught, not taught.
Ask yourself:
Do I model the behavior I want to see?
How do I respond when a project fails?
Am I respectful and constructive when giving feedback?
Consider a founder leading a small retail business. The store faces a supply delay, and frustration is mounting. Instead of blaming the team, the founder calmly communicates the challenge, lays out the mitigation plan, and asks for input. The team feels supported and motivated rather than anxious or resentful. That’s leadership in action — small behaviors that reinforce trust, accountability, and composure.
Remember, titles and fancy language mean nothing without consistent, authentic actions that demonstrate competence and empathy.
Build Tiny Systems to Reduce Mental Load
When you’re running a business solo or in a small team, decision fatigue is real. You can’t lead effectively if every day is consumed by micro-decisions, forgotten tasks, and reactive problem-solving.
The solution? Micro-systems that free up your brain for strategic thinking.
Simple examples include:
A morning checklist for priorities and meetings.
Weekly planning rituals for client work, marketing, and internal tasks.
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for recurring tasks like client onboarding.
End-of-day reflection questions to track wins and lessons learned.
These tiny systems create consistency, reduce errors, and allow you to focus on leadership tasks rather than constantly reinventing processes. For instance, a coaching business might create a template for new client intake forms and automated email sequences. This ensures no one slips through the cracks, and the founder can focus on high-impact coaching decisions rather than repetitive administrative work.
Systems don’t replace leadership — they amplify it. They make your intentions repeatable and scalable.
Protect Your Energy Like It’s Company Cash
Leadership isn’t about grinding yourself into exhaustion. Your energy is the engine that powers every decision, every interaction, and every project. Burnout destroys focus, clarity, and credibility.
Treat your energy like an investment. Schedule:
Thinking time for strategy and reflection.
Rest days to recharge physically and mentally.
Catch-up windows to prevent small tasks from piling up.
Non-negotiable sleep hours — no compromise.
A founder of a small SaaS startup learned this the hard way. Working 14-hour days, skipping weekends, and answering emails at midnight, they burned out within six months. Productivity collapsed, client relationships suffered, and team morale dipped. After recalibrating, setting boundaries, and instituting energy-protection practices, not only did the founder regain clarity, but the business thrived. Leadership isn’t heroic — it’s sustainable.
Focus on Clarity Over Perfection
Perfectionism is the enemy of progress. Many new leaders fall into the trap of over-planning, overthinking, and withholding decisions until everything is “just right.” Meanwhile, the business stalls, the team waits, and opportunities slip away.
Instead, prioritise:
Clear communication over polished presentation.
Measurable actions over idealized strategy.
Quick course correction over paralysis by analysis.
For instance, an e-commerce founder launching a new product line doesn’t need the perfect website or flawless marketing copy on day one. Clear product descriptions, a functioning checkout process, and timely promotions will serve better. Iterate based on feedback. Lead with action, not perfection.
Teams can adapt to refinement and change, but they cannot thrive in ambiguity and radio silence. Your clarity is the scaffolding that lets them build effectively.
Leading While Learning Is a Strength, Not a Weakness
Here’s a mindset shift worth adopting: feeling uncertain doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you’re growing. Leadership is less about having all the answers and more about showing up, making decisions, and improving continuously.
Consider these practical strategies for leading while still figuring things out:
Keep a wins folder. Track successes, client feedback, and milestones. When self-doubt creeps in, evidence of progress reminds you and your team that results exist.
Share the learning process openly. Invite team members to contribute solutions. Leadership becomes a shared journey rather than a lonely burden.
Reflect regularly. Weekly or bi-weekly check-ins with yourself or a mentor can help you see patterns, learn faster, and adjust direction proactively.
A small consultancy owner, for example, found that openly discussing mistakes and lessons learned during team meetings increased engagement and accountability. The team appreciated transparency, and together they innovated better solutions faster than the founder could have alone.
The Truth About Leadership Titles
You don’t need a fancy title, years of experience, or a flawless track record to be a leader. Leadership is a decision, not a credential. It’s a daily choice to show up, set direction, communicate clearly, and foster trust — even when you don’t have all the answers.
Your integrity, willingness to learn, and ability to create clarity are the qualities that make people follow you. Not your title, your income, or the number of certifications on your wall.
Even small actions — a transparent email to your team, a quick call to clarify expectations, a small process improvement — accumulate over time. They define your leadership style and the culture of your business.
Final Thoughts
Leading while figuring things out is not just possible — it’s normal for most small business owners. Growth doesn’t wait for perfection. People don’t need flawless leaders; they need leaders who are clear, consistent, honest, and intentional.
Start by setting priorities, building small systems, and protecting your energy. Communicate openly about uncertainty, act with integrity, and refine as you go. Leadership is less about knowing everything and more about showing up every day with purpose and clarity.
Remember: you don’t have to be “ready” to lead. You only have to be willing. Willing to make decisions, willing to be transparent, and willing to learn. The team, clients, and business will follow your example.
Leadership isn’t a title. It’s a practice. And the best leaders often learn on the job — the same way you’re doing now.
Start where you are. Lead with intention. Learn as you go. That’s real leadership. And there’s nothing fake about it.
