As an entrepreneur, I have always believed that a business is only as strong as the team behind it. Over the years, I have seen both the joys and challenges of building a startup, and through it all, I’ve learned countless lessons from Everyday Life. One recent experience, however, taught me something that was difficult yet incredibly valuable: not to trust every employee blindly.
In the fast-paced world of startups, it is easy to get caught up in the excitement and enthusiasm that new team members bring. As entrepreneurs, we tend to be optimistic, often placing our trust in the people we hire, believing they will help our business grow and flourish. But what happens when that trust is misplaced? What happens when the people you rely on to help you build your dream end up letting you down? This is a lesson I learned the hard way, and I want to share it with you.
Beginning: A Promising Start
A few months ago, I decided to expand my team. As a young entrepreneur, I was juggling multiple roles—sales, marketing, operations, and everything in between. I realized I needed to delegate some key responsibilities to scale my business. Among the new hires was Himanshi , a young and ambitious individual who seemed perfect for the job. He had an impressive background, a strong work ethic, and had even worked with a few well-known companies before joining our startup. He came highly recommended, and during the interview process, he shared some amazing ideas that aligned perfectly with the vision I had for the company.
Himanshi was confident, eager, and appeared to have the right skills. He quickly became an integral part of the team. At first, everything seemed perfect. His work was good, he met deadlines, and his interactions with the team were positive. I was impressed with his initial performance and believed he was someone I could trust to take on significant responsibilities within the company.
I started to give him more freedom and trust him with larger projects, confident that he would deliver results. As an entrepreneur, I thought that if you empower people with responsibility, they will rise to the occasion. After all, in my experience, a motivated team is the backbone of any successful business.
The First Signs of Trouble
Over time, however, cracks began to show. Himanshi started missing deadlines, and there were delays in the completion of key tasks. At first, I attributed it to the typical pressures of a startup—long hours, unexpected hurdles, and the juggling of multiple projects. I trusted that he would catch up and get back on track.
But then things started to get more complicated. Every time I asked Himanshi for an update, his responses were vague or full of excuses. “I’ve been too busy with other tasks,” he would say, or, “There’s been a delay in getting the required resources.” When I followed up with the rest of the team, I discovered that many of the tasks Himanshi was supposed to be handling were either incomplete or ignored. He was also spending a significant amount of time in meetings and on calls that had nothing to do with his responsibilities.
Despite these growing concerns, I didn’t act immediately. I assumed that it was just a phase—perhaps he was overwhelmed, or maybe he was still adjusting to the team dynamics. As a new entrepreneur, I didn’t want to jump to conclusions too quickly. After all, I knew that running a business wasn’t easy, and I wanted to be supportive of my team members.
The Breaking Point
Things finally came to a head one day when I received an anonymous tip. One of my employees informed me that they had seen Himanshi working with a competitor, despite being on company payroll. This was a shocking revelation. I immediately decided to confront him. When I asked him about the tip, he hesitated for a moment before admitting that he had been secretly working on a side project for a competitor while still collecting a salary from our company.
I felt betrayed, but more than that, I felt foolish for not recognizing the signs earlier. I had trusted Himanshi too much, believing that his early enthusiasm and performance meant he was completely committed to the company. But I had failed to notice the small warning signs along the way—the missed deadlines, the vague excuses, and the lack of transparency.
This experience taught me a painful yet valuable lesson: trust is crucial, but it must be earned over time, through consistent performance and honesty. While I had built a strong rapport with Himanshi , I hadn’t set clear enough boundaries or systems of accountability to ensure he was genuinely working in the company’s best interest. Trust is important, but it needs to be balanced with vigilance and regular checks.
The Aftermath: A New Approach to Leadership
After the incident with Himanshi , I had to take immediate action. I removed him from his role and began reassessing how I managed my team. I realized that while it’s important to trust your employees, it’s just as important to remain cautious and to always keep the channels of communication open. I had neglected to put in place systems that would allow me to keep track of each person’s progress in real time.
I also realized that I had been too focused on empowerment and not enough on oversight. As a leader, it’s my responsibility to set clear expectations and hold people accountable for their actions. Delegating responsibilities is important, but so is ensuring that everyone is performing at their best and contributing to the company’s goals. I began scheduling more frequent one-on-one meetings with each team member, setting clear goals, and implementing performance reviews that would help me keep track of progress.
A Lesson for Entrepreneurs
This experience was a wake-up call, not just for me, but for anyone in the process of building a business. In India, where the entrepreneurial landscape is rapidly growing and evolving, it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of expansion and growth. But it’s essential to remember that trust, while important, should not come without checks and balances. Trust needs to be earned over time, and as a leader, you must stay connected with your team, monitoring their progress and ensuring they are aligned with your vision.
I now approach my leadership role with a more balanced mindset. I empower my team, but I also ensure that there is accountability at every level. I’ve learned that successful entrepreneurship is not just about finding the right people, but also about knowing how to guide, support, and hold them accountable. And perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that not everyone who comes into your team will have the same level of commitment and passion as you do. It’s a tough lesson, but one that every entrepreneur must learn if they want to build a sustainable and trustworthy business.
Conclusion: Lessons from Everyday Life
In the end, this experience was a valuable lesson that made me a better entrepreneur. It’s a reminder that trust is earned, not given, and that as a leader, it’s important to keep your eyes open and take steps to ensure your team is always moving in the right direction. The road to success is never easy, but with the right balance of trust, accountability, and vigilance, you can build a team that is truly committed to your vision.
