It's been largely assumed that to run a successful business today, good leadership is required. However, it's not the end of the world for leaders who worry that they're low on charisma or traditional leadership qualities. 

Sometimes, it's more effective for employees to be more loyal to the work instead of being more loyal to the leader. After all, the end goal should be to keep employees engaged and productive by charging them to solve compelling problems. And, some leaders become business owners not because they want to run things on their own, but because they believe starting a company is the best way to solve a problem. This approach is part of being a "problem-led" leader, says editor-at-large for Inc. magazine Leigh Buchanan. 

Problem-led leaders typically make their decisions with data-driven information. They also tend to be less polished than other more traditional company leaders. For instance, they don't care much about their physical environments; they can be tone-deaf to politics; emotional intelligence is not their strong suit; and they are unusually tolerant of idiosyncrasies in others. However, this particular style of leadership can be very effective. 

The Non-Leading Leader

An owner who wants to problem-solve and lead as little as possible needs employees to take on leadership responsibilities. However, not all employees are interested in becoming traditional leaders. For instance, titles may mean little to them, so motivation must be built into the work itself. Part of the reward is that you get to solve other problems and build a reputation as a problem solver.

It is equally important to keep everyone engaged. That means hiring people with strong diagnostic skills. Asking job applicants how they would approach a specific problem or giving them one to actually solve is one way to do that. 

Communication is Still Key

Problem-led leaders still need to embrace collaborative efforts to succeed. Some of the strongest traditional leaders are committed to diffusing a problem-solving culture among their employees. They ask simple questions and offer help along the way.