Corporate Entrepreneurs – The Real Movers and Shakers
Stefan Zaichkowski
Visionary Ideation Expert and Strategic Problem Solver - Founder, Chief Operations Officer and Principal Consultant at Sounding Board Live
To maintain competitive advantage and to stay relevant, corporations cannot simply continue to lower costs or restructure for efficiencies. Although it would seem like an oxymoron, one of the most advantageous assets a corporation can have is an entrepreneur in its ranks, and several can even be better!
An extremely narrow definition of an entrepreneur is someone who starts a business. Babson College defines an entrepreneur as someone who identifies or creates an opportunity, marshals resources and provides leadership to create social or economic value, requiring self awareness and the ability to muster others to build on that opportunity.
So how does one go about finding a corporate entrepreneur? Look for individuals who are problem solvers, facilitators, collaborators and communicators. These individuals will be known within the organization as easily accessible, openly sharing ideas and information, facilitating discussions with different groups to resolve issues.
How does one leverage such individuals? Give them bigger corporate problems to solve, larger, more complex issues to resolve and allow them access to resources to ensure they have the tools they need to come up with solutions. Also, allow them to fail. To quote Marian Croak, Senior Vice President at AT&T, “It is important to fail fast, and find out as fast as you can what works, so you can move in on it. Learn by failing, and by failing you learn.”
Once a corporation has found one or more corporate entrepreneurs it should encourage them and mentor them and give them the opportunity to mentor others which in turn will produce more like-minded and corporately advantageous individuals.
A corporation willing to take it’s heading from somewhere other than just the bridge is a corporation that will stay afloat for a long time.
Stefan Zaichkowski is President and Chief Architect of The Paradigm Institute, an executive coach and corporate mentor.
If you want to know more, contact me at [email protected]
Administrator | Analyst
9 年May I say that these individuals - Easily accessible, openly sharing ideas and information, facilitating discussions with different groups to resolve issues, not just the bridge. Whom may find themselves for months crossing out a to do list may gain an advantage from listening to the insight movers and shakers bring to the table.
Food Safety Consulting, Independent Researcher
10 年".... one of the most advantageous assets a corporation can have is an entrepreneur in its ranks, and several can even be better! ... a corporate entrepreneur! " Entrepreneurs are exactly the right lean asset every business needs! Good article!
Creative Writer (LION Open Networker)
10 年“It is important to fail fast, and find out as fast as you can what works, so you can move in on it. Learn by failing, and by failing you learn.” Well said, Stefan!