6 Ways To Be An Entrepreneur At The Office
By Liz Brenner
How many times have you read a job description or spoken to someone about an opportunity – inside or outside of your organization – and they are seeking someone with entrepreneurial mindset? Have you wondered “what exactly does that mean and how can I embrace my inner entrepreneur?”
Our company recently launched an Intrapreneurship Program. Budding “intrapreneurs” are vying for a fellowship where they can work on bringing their business concept to life. I’m thrilled that a business idea I’ve been working on with colleagues made it to the top 25 and we’ll head to Berlin in a few weeks for the pitch.
I spoke to a few folks in the program and asked for their thoughts on how to be an entrepreneur inside a big company. The good news is that you don’t have to have a side business to act like an entrepreneur at your organization.
Here are 6 things you can do to work like an entrepreneur:
1. Be a self-starter. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. Isn’t this obvious? Be a doer, take the lead, just do it!
2. Learn! Entrepreneurs love learning. Talk to people, listen, and learn.
3. Do more with less. Be resourceful – especially when it comes to time and resources. Spend company money as if it were your own, recruit people for projects that they want to work on, not that they’re forced to work on. Don’t waste people’s time. Keep meetings brief and productive.
4. Get creative. Let go of the mindset of “this is how it has always been done.” Be simpler, be nimble, find better ways to do things. Bring in diverse perspectives to solve tough challenges through collaboration.
5. Lead without authority. Always be the person you would want to work for. If you have a clear vision, respect and trust others, give them autonomy, I bet they will support your initiatives.
6. Be bold. Take smart risks, make quick decisions, trust the right people. And if you make a mistake, get back up and try again!
What are some other ways to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit? How do you act like an entrepreneur at your office?
This post first appeared at Liz Brenner’s blog, www.bleadwithintuition.com
Liz Brenner
Liz Brenner is currently Vice President of Marketing Employee Engagement at SAP. Liz has spent over 8 years in various marketing and operations roles at SAP. Prior to SAP, Liz spent over 10 years in consulting and operations roles at BearingPoint, Arthur Andersen, and in the energy industry. Liz’s blog, Lead With Intuition, is a compilation of inspiring lessons from top business leaders to empower you in your pursuit of success. Follow @LizBrenner on Twitter.
By Liz Brenner
How many times have you read a job description or spoken to someone about an opportunity – inside or outside of your organization – and they are seeking someone with entrepreneurial mindset? Have you wondered “what exactly does that mean and how can I embrace my inner entrepreneur?”
Our company recently launched an Intrapreneurship Program. Budding “intrapreneurs” are vying for a fellowship where they can work on bringing their business concept to life. I’m thrilled that a business idea I’ve been working on with colleagues made it to the top 25 and we’ll head to Berlin in a few weeks for the pitch.
I spoke to a few folks in the program and asked for their thoughts on how to be an entrepreneur inside a big company. The good news is that you don’t have to have a side business to act like an entrepreneur at your organization.
Here are 6 things you can do to work like an entrepreneur:
1. Be a self-starter. Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do. Isn’t this obvious? Be a doer, take the lead, just do it!
2. Learn! Entrepreneurs love learning. Talk to people, listen, and learn.
3. Do more with less. Be resourceful – especially when it comes to time and resources. Spend company money as if it were your own, recruit people for projects that they want to work on, not that they’re forced to work on. Don’t waste people’s time. Keep meetings brief and productive.
4. Get creative. Let go of the mindset of “this is how it has always been done.” Be simpler, be nimble, find better ways to do things. Bring in diverse perspectives to solve tough challenges through collaboration.
5. Lead without authority. Always be the person you would want to work for. If you have a clear vision, respect and trust others, give them autonomy, I bet they will support your initiatives.
6. Be bold. Take smart risks, make quick decisions, trust the right people. And if you make a mistake, get back up and try again!
What are some other ways to embrace the entrepreneurial spirit? How do you act like an entrepreneur at your office?
This post first appeared at Liz Brenner’s blog, www.bleadwithintuition.com
Liz Brenner
Liz Brenner is currently Vice President of Marketing Employee Engagement at SAP. Liz has spent over 8 years in various marketing and operations roles at SAP. Prior to SAP, Liz spent over 10 years in consulting and operations roles at BearingPoint, Arthur Andersen, and in the energy industry. Liz’s blog, Lead With Intuition, is a compilation of inspiring lessons from top business leaders to empower you in your pursuit of success. Follow @LizBrenner on Twitter.
