What Is and Isn’t Entrepreneurship

Organizations talk more and more about creating a culture of entrepreneurship. I thought I would share my thoughts about what is and isn’t entrepreneurship–at least how I see it. Consider the following:

• This is more than just engaging people—and it’s far beyond employee satisfaction. But it does create those fruits.

• This is not about empowering people, but rather fostering a culture where people empower themselves.

• This is trusting people to take the organization where it needs to go. Without trust, it never succeeds.

• This is not about going off and doing your own thing–This is about freedom in a framework. Steering is separated from rowing—though both are needed.

• This is more about soft wiring than hard wiring. In other words, it’s more about inspiring, motivating, and inspiring for entrepreneurialism, not putting in new organizational structures, policies or initiatives. It’s about influence—not control.

• This is more than just the work of employees—it’s about customers as entrepreneurs.
  Customer entrepreneurship is needed because 99.99% of the smartest people don’t work for your company.

• This is about a building a learning culture—where people not only learn from their mistakes, but build on them. From the ashes of disaster come the roses of success.

• Entrepreneurial organizations seek to make it easier for employees and customers to do what they need to do. They take away the bureaucracy. They make it easier for employees and customers to do business with you.

• Entrepreneurship is not just about grand Eureka style moments, but small transformational changes that ultimately tier up to success.

• Entrepreneurial organizations build on people’s strengths—not on their weaknesses.
  Building an entrepreneurial culture must be intentional. It doesn’t just happen.

Based on what is described here, do you work in an organization that is focused on entrepreneurship? What would it take to get there? What keeps you from getting there? What would be the fruits of having such? How would it take your organization to the next level?