Do Entrepreneurial Thinkers make good leaders? Its almost a rhetorical question and might be a definition of leadership. What better focus for leaders that to be innovative problem solvers.
One of the reasons most employees are not creative is they are tasked with job descriptions that require precise actions each day. They report on their progress or they are tracked for productivity. There might even be quarterly reviews.
In a sense this creates pressure and fear. They have to meet their numbers. They have to demonstrate they are earning their salary. They are responsible to for supporting operations. They are rarely asked if they see innovative ways to make the whole process better.
What if an employee spent time in a block just contemplating ways to streamline or make products and services more attractive? This certainly is the responsibility of C-Suite executives, the marketing, and sales departments. Why shouldn't everyone be given time to think about innovation?
All the innovative people might be on the outside creating a competitor. Startups have great ideas and have to implement them in the face of existing competition in products and services. They may be the unseen force that causes slow moving market share owners to lose share. Doesn't this happen every day?
Entrepreneurs are forward thinkers. They are not risk averse. They will think outside the box. They have growth mindsets. They enjoy challenge. They are resilient. They are great communicators and learn how to sell stakeholders their ideas. They are networkers. They negotiate, sell, and streamline.
Employee entrepreneurs would be more engaged and work with eyes open to difficulties that could be solved without waiting for senior leaders to see them. They could make suggestions, lead committees and projects. They could facilitate problem solving. They are coal waiting to be diamonds.
#promotions, #leadershipskills, #entrepreneurialthinking, #problemsolving.