To achieve growth and development in organisations, there is a need to develop key entrepreneurial traits. IFE ADEDAPO writes
They are of the opinion that large
enterprises that had been in existence for years may not survive the
present period of rapid change and innovation unless they acquire
entrepreneurial competence.
Experts say entrepreneurs need to develop
the mindset, skills, competencies and experiential learning that will
enable them to function as business managers or as productive members of
emerging, entrepreneurial firms.
They say all businesses in recent times recognise the need for entrepreneurial skills in today’s rapidly-changing marketplace.
According to them, these organisations
require individuals with the ability to manage risk, manage across
functional boundaries, and creatively engage and adapt to a dynamic
environment.
To be a sought-after entrepreneur, experts have pointed out things to learn and strengthen.
Learn by reading
Human resources professionals say most
graduates only read what they are being taught in school and refuse to
update their knowledge in their career path. The Chief Executive Officer
of Learning Edge, Mr. Kingsley Aigbona, disclosed that from experience,
he discovered that graduates read more of spiritual books than other
books in the industry that would upgrade their knowledge.
The business consultant notes that the
same mindset that graduates have when they were in school, which is to
read and pass, without applying the knowledge acquired to their career
or gathering other information outside their industry is often brought
into the business world.
He says people need to constantly learn
about business, about the industry they have chosen and about their
customers. He says to be a master of your trade, you need to know as
much about it as possible.
Professionals advise that when people
read, they ought not to focus only on their industry but also other
areas including business management- related books.
Doing this, they say, will allow them to
explore different ideas and come up with new ones. They say the best
investment that no one can take away is in learning and development.
This will help you write better content, write better speeches, sell more intelligently and push your business to new heights.
Be risk takers
Most people feel risk is something that
has to be avoided, however, it has been discovered that employers are on
the look-out for risk takers, who will effect changes and see it
through.
Experts say risks are not bad and indeed some are rewarding if taken with caution.
According to them, not all risks and
challenges can be anticipated, but once identified, they can be managed
by lead entrepreneurs, executives, and team working together.
The impulsive nature of entrepreneurs,
according to experts, may lead to trouble, but when combined with a
personality that is adaptable and knows how to rise with every
disappointment coupled with the ability to learn from mistakes, it will
have tremendous gain in the end.
In addition, they posit that if
entrepreneurs surround themselves with people who are not experienced
risk-takers, they will find that risk-aversion can be contagious.
As a result, they say seeking expert
advice before taking decisions will help. Moreover, they say attempting
to get responses concerning a new initiative from intelligent friends
who have never taken a career risk may prove to be counterproductive.
Aigbona says in his years of experience,
he has seen the role of a human resource manger being occupied by a
lawyer because the lawyer was able to take tough decisions and manage
changes well without being biased.
Character
Having the right character and personality will make you rise quickly in the midst of competition and challenges, experts note.
For small businesses, a consultant, Mr.
Akinola Oyediran, says the drive to succeed is important because the
entrepreneurs need to encourage themselves to do more when faced with
obstacles, adding that this will propel them with time from being a
start-up to a well established business owner.
According to Wayne Huizenga, when
successful entrepreneurs identify an opportunity, they pursue it with
vigour. They are immersed in the business day-in day-out, risking both
capital and time. They are driven to succeed and are probably more
afraid of failure than anything else.
Therefore, to achieve success quickly,
Oyediran says people should ensure that they have passion for the
business they are venturing into. According to him, a powerful sense of
passion and interest in the work, will make them excel at it.
In addition, he says being resilient will
enable you to overcome challenges and bounce back when faced with
setbacks, because entrepreneurship is associated with ups and downs.
Show competence
To be effective, professional competence
is vital. Oyediran says incompetence can be a factor in losing many
opportunities, because clients need to trust your proficiency.
As a business owner, he says you need to
prove yourself as being capable of executing a business deal. He says
the starting point to attain high patronage is to develop competence.
To achieve this, he advises start-ups to
determine what aspects of their job are most important and then make the
decision to become very good in those areas.
He says, “Get training in those areas
where you feel you are less competent. You must be perceived as being
very competent at what you do. That perception alone will bring you to
the attention of more people faster than you can imagine. It does not
mean that you have to know everything that relates to your business;
rather, know what to do and how to get it done.”
