Let’s face it, entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone. Many people enjoy being employed and using their downtime to spend with family, traveling, or enjoying hobbies. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t have an entrepreneur mindset at work. A key trait of high performers is they see challenges from various angles and can apply unconventional solutions by acting as internal entrepreneurs or intrepreneurs.
Learn the secret sauce behind successful entrepreneurs.
Intrepreneurs Ask Better Questions
For example, at a previous company, I was tasked with analyzing the order fulfillment process. Through process mapping, I uncovered the step that was creating a bottleneck. Instead of asking why the action was necessary, I wondered why it was performed the way it was. As a result, I uncovered that when the process was created, a tool to simplify the task didn’t exist, and over time everyone just accepted it. A quick internet search revealed several online and inexpensive solutions now existed. It was a small change that led to a big outcome with little expense or process overhaul.
Most people ask questions. Leaders demonstrate a level of curiosity and lean toward constant improvement. But an intrepreneur will pull back the layers to extract the information that lies beneath. ‘Why’ is an excellent place to begin, but those with an entrepreneurial mindset want to know more about a decision’s mechanics.
Intrepreneurs Bridge Silos
Have you worked in a large corporation that was super siloed? The gaps between the silos are larger than the Grand Canyon. On the one hand, it creates focus for an organization allowing them to be heads down on their priorities, but it can lead to duplicative efforts.
But intrepreneurs see these gaps as an opportunity to build bridges. They create an extensive network of people across the organization and can often be found picking people’s brains. Also, they don’t just complete the necessary steps to get the job done. They spend time with the people they regularly work with to understand their needs so they can better collaborate. They become hubs connecting people with similar ideas or those in need.
An Intrepreneur Looks For The Signal In The Noise
My superpower is bringing order to ambiguity. As I am listening and taking in information, my brain automatically begins looking for patterns. Intrepreneurs know that when they hear a lot of static around a particular topic that there is something consequential underneath. They sort through the noise, much like when you tune into a radio station, until they hone in on the real issue.
This is why the trait of asking better questions is so important. The right question can crystalize an issue and get everyone back on track.
No One Pivots Better Than An Intrepreneur
When a strategy doesn’t pan out or a global pandemic forces everything to shut down, the intrepreneur comes alive. An intrepreneur won’t spend much time wallowing. In fact, most intrepreneurs are probably using phrases such as “the new normal” rather than “back to normal.” They are coming up with ways to capitalize on change and pivot the business model.
What differentiates intrepreneurs is that they aren’t waiting to see what the new normal is, they are striving to create it.
Intrepreneurs Eat Risk For Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner
And when a high visibility initiative comes along, leadership is thinking of the person who took the big swing, even if they missed.
An intrepreneur takes calculated risks because they see the reward that many others don’t. While checking boxes move many up the hierarchy ladder in Corporate America, intrepreneurs rely on extraordinary results in the face of ordinary efforts. Even though they may miss the mark on a particular endeavor, they still land on the radar. And when a high visibility initiative comes along, leadership is thinking of the person who took the big swing, even if they missed.
Intrepreneurs Embrace That Small Changes Lead To Big Outcomes
Though intrepreneurs value innovation and thrive in change, they don’t believe in disruption just to shake things up. It’s not productive or useful when what is working works. Nor do they subscribe to the notion that big changes lead to big outcomes. Instead of changing a process or structure, they focus on minor tweaks because they understand the sum of small changes.
While others attempt to set themselves apart by blowing up perfectly good organizations, intrepreneurs recognize big outcomes can come from small changes. This is also known as the butterfly effect. The super-simple explanation of this effect demonstrated by Edward Lorenz illustrates that when a butterfly flaps its wings in Japan, it can affect weather on the other side of the world.
Intrapreneurs Embrace The Suck
When things go off the rails, they lean in. They look for the lesson in the chaos. There may not be anything they can immediately do, but they embrace the reality that there are tough times ahead. In the case of a global pandemic, they not only rise to the occasion by improving their Zoom meeting skills but also set an example for others. As network hubs or connectors, intrepreneurs are aware that people are watching them for guidance, mentorship, and solace. They act accordingly. And, they set boundaries and take the necessary time to recharge.
Nile Harris is Life Strategist, Consultant, and Speaker working with aspiring entrepreneurs and transitioning professionals to transform their passion and purpose into P.R.O.F.I.T. by managing their business like a B.O.S.S. Find Nile at @iamnileharris on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.