In a startup, moving fast doesn’t mean leaving important conversations behind. Quite the opposite: as a team grows, clarity, communication, and leadership become increasingly important.
In our latest Powertrain Ventures Founder Talk, we had the opportunity to sit down with Carlos Flores, Managing Director of NewPath Consulting, to discuss leadership, communication, and team development. Carlos shared his experience working with founders and startups to improve collaboration and execution within their organizations.
One of the key takeaways from the session was that a team needs clarity before speed. Clearly defining each person’s responsibilities, who makes decisions, and who owns each task helps reduce friction—especially in startups, where priorities are constantly changing.
We also discussed situational leadership: not everyone needs to be led in the same way. Depending on a person’s level of competence and commitment, a founder’s role may range from directing and instructing to supporting and, eventually, delegating. The goal is not to rely on a single leadership style, but to learn how to adapt it to each team member’s stage of development.
Another key takeaway was learning how to make effective requests. A good request requires clarity around what is expected, how it should be done, when it should be completed, and when follow-ups should happen. But it also requires something essential: obtaining a clear commitment—even when the answer is “no.”
The conversation closed with an idea that captured much of the session: clearly defining responsibilities, adapting your leadership style, and improving the quality of your conversations can reduce friction and lead to better results.
At Powertrain Ventures, we want our community to not only build better startups, but also build better teams to help them grow.
Thank you, Carlos, for sharing your experience with our community, and thank you to all the founders who joined the conversation.
