What's stopping us?

Entrepreneurship is booming. In their droves, people are casting aside corporate careers to set up their own business or businesses. Individuals tired of the demands of corporate life are mapping out their future, developing themselves, acquiring new skills faster than ever before. Hiring coaches and mentors to help hold them accountable and get them to where they want to be. So many in search of the utopian state of entrepreneurial freedom rewarded by the increasingly valued currencies of time, money and freedom.

But what of the corporate employee? Entrepreneurship isn't for everyone. Many find this out the hard way but so many are not even cut out to try. Some (rightly),whether cut out for it or not, don't want to. And why should they? They enjoy corporate life, success is available and indeed potentially bountiful in the corporate environment. Without all the risks. But not all know how to unlock it.

So why is the concept of Intrapreneurship so alien in the corporate arena? It's not a new term but is one I have never heard spoken in more than 20 years in the corporate environment. Aren't senior leaders are under more pressure than ever before to get results? Commercial challenges are immense and jobs are, in reality, plentiful. Yet it's seems harder and harder to recruit talented employees as it is to get existing employees to take their initiative. There are more employees than ever frustrated, not achieving their goals and wanting more from their jobs and careers.

From an employees perspective surely it's simply there for the taking. There isn't a senior leader I know (well perhaps I've come across one or two) who wouldn't welcome with both arms a team member who can step up, figure out what needs doing, build a plan to undertake new initiative to drive results without being asked to.

Surely, now more than ever there is an opportunity (even demand) for employees, whatever the level or experience, to challenge their limits, create more impact, have greater influence, deliver better results, stand out from the crowd and achieve more recognition.

So what's getting in the way? Confidence, know how, permission, lack of willingness to stand out, fear of criticism, fear of failure?

Does this need to change? Is there an emboldened future laying ahead where Leaders have the confidence to let go, create freedom and encourage "Intraprenerialism" in the workplace where employees are more free to rise to the challenge of achieving success and fulfillment, achieving greater results, solving more problems, seeking better results.

Is it time for corporate employees to be more empowered, to not wait in the wings, hoping to be recognised? Hoping or waiting for "development"? Can the employee, at all levels, lead from the front, determine their own destiny, shape their own success? Are leaders willing to accept the bold, the fearless, those with their own ideas and the ability to make things happen? Combine the two and can we all really make a greater difference?

I believe personally in striving to embrace those who works for me and alongside me to stand up, stand out and be fearless in the pursuit of Internal Entrepreneurship and welcome with open arms the Intrapreneur.

A leader? an employee? What's stopping you?