Starting a company in Canada is exciting. It is also full of challenges. Jonathan Haber Montreal knows this firsthand. He is a Montreal-based entrepreneur who has helped multiple startups grow from small ideas into impactful businesses. Haber has built tools that improve teamwork, streamline processes, and solve real problems for users. His experience in leading teams and launching startups makes him an authority on startup leadership.
Understanding the Role of Leadership
Leadership is not about having all the answers. It is about understanding people and guiding them. Haber explains, “In my first startup, I thought I had to solve every problem myself. I quickly learned that listening to my team revealed solutions I never saw alone.”
Effective leadership starts with observing. Watch how your team works. Notice where they struggle. Ask simple questions like, “What slows you down?” or “What would make this process easier?” This approach helps you focus on actionable solutions.
In Canada, 75 percent of startups fail within the first five years, often due to weak leadership and poor team communication. Paying attention to how your team functions can prevent many common mistakes.
Building a Trust-Based Team
Trust is the backbone of any startup. Haber recalls a time when his team was overwhelmed by tight deadlines. “I stopped trying to micromanage. Instead, I asked them to tell me what they needed. We adjusted priorities, and morale improved immediately.”
Trust also requires transparency. Share your goals and challenges openly. Let the team understand why decisions are made. When employees feel trusted and informed, they take ownership of their work.
Actionable tip: Schedule short weekly check-ins. Ask your team what obstacles they face and how you can remove them. Keep these conversations problem-focused, not personal.
Listening to Customers
Many startups focus too much on the product and not enough on the people who use it. Jonathan Haber emphasizes, “I once spent months building a feature users didn’t want. After a few interviews, we scrapped it and built something simpler. Adoption doubled in weeks.”
Collect feedback early and often. Use surveys, one-on-one interviews, and analytics to understand user behavior. Treat customer insight as a compass for development decisions.
Statistics show that startups that regularly gather user feedback are 30 percent more likely to retain clients after the first year. Feedback also reduces wasted time and effort on features nobody will use.
Turning Setbacks into Learning
Setbacks are inevitable. Startups face funding delays, technical problems, and changing markets. The difference between failure and growth is how leaders respond.
Haber shares a story: “During one launch, a major server went down. Instead of panicking, I gathered the team, outlined a quick fix, and assigned tasks based on everyone’s strengths. We recovered in hours and learned better load management techniques for the future.”
Actionable tip: Create a post-mortem process for every major issue. Ask what went wrong, why, and how it can be avoided next time. Keep the focus on learning, not blame.
Maintaining a Clear Vision
A startup needs a clear vision. Haber notes, “It’s easy to get distracted by every opportunity that comes along. I learned to focus only on projects that aligned with our core mission.”
Clarity prevents burnout and wasted resources. Define your mission in one simple sentence. Ensure every decision aligns with it. Share this vision with your team regularly.
Actionable tip: Write a mission statement and post it in your office or shared workspace. Refer to it before approving new projects or features.
Balancing Risk and Flexibility
Startups require risk-taking. However, leaders must balance risk with planning. Haber recalls, “We launched a new feature without testing. It failed spectacularly. Now, we run small pilot programs to test ideas before full-scale launches.”
Flexibility is also essential. Market conditions, client needs, and technologies change. Leaders must adjust without losing focus. Small, iterative changes prevent major disasters and allow continuous improvement.
Leading by Example
Haber emphasizes leading by example. “I worked late nights alongside my team during crunch periods. They didn’t have to follow, but seeing me committed inspired them to push harder.”
This approach builds respect. Teams are more motivated when leaders share the same workload and challenges. Leading by example also demonstrates your values in action rather than just in words.
Actionable tip: Spend at least one hour each week doing hands-on work with your team. Show engagement, commitment, and support.
Encouraging Innovation
Innovation thrives when teams feel safe to experiment. Haber says, “We started a program where everyone could pitch an idea each month. Half of our most successful features came from those pitches.”
Encourage creativity and make space for it. Celebrate small wins and learn from failures. A culture that values innovation attracts talent and creates long-term growth.
Conclusion
Building a startup in Canada is a journey from idea to impact. Leadership, trust, vision, and listening are critical to success. Jonathan Haber’s experiences show that paying attention to people, both your team and your users, creates sustainable growth. Leaders who embrace setbacks as lessons, balance risk with flexibility, and encourage innovation can turn small ideas into meaningful impact.
Startups can implement simple steps today: hold weekly check-ins, gather user feedback, run pilot tests, and lead by example. These actions make leadership practical and effective, helping teams grow alongside their business.
Shikha Negi is a Content Writer at ztudium with expertise in writing and proofreading content. Having created more than 500 articles encompassing a diverse range of educational topics, from breaking news to in-depth analysis and long-form content, Shikha has a deep understanding of emerging trends in business, technology (including AI, blockchain, and the metaverse), and societal shifts, As the author at Sarvgyan News, Shikha has demonstrated expertise in crafting engaging and informative content tailored for various audiences, including students, educators, and professionals.
