The term ‘Entrepreneur’ is well used and well known in the business world, but what about it’s sibling the ‘Intrapreneur’? It’s a term that is relatively unheard of and little understood. And how can you tell if you are one?
Intrapreneurs are simply entrepreneurs working to create positive change from inside an organisation. They come in all shapes and sizes and can be found in all sectors and industries. You might be working in a large corporation, a family owned business, a government agency or a not-for-profit. Intrapreneurs seek to create impact by challenging the status quo and driving innovation within their businesses. They may be small innovations that affect the organisation they work within, or they may be bold, significant endeavours which create positive change in the broader community or even globally.
So how do you know if you’re an intrapreneur? Here are 5 tell-tale signs:
1: You’re a Dreamer – You’re constantly wondering whether there is a better way of doing things, or what else you could do to create greater impact. You probably drove your parents crazy when you were little with your constant barrage of questions, and the reply ‘Just because’ never cut it for you.
2: You’re a Bridge-Builder – You’re masterful at nurturing relationships and enlisting support of stakeholders and influencers. You dedicate a huge amount of your time and energy to this because you understand that without a tribe of supporters and enablers, you won’t get anywhere fast.
3: You don’t give up easily – in a word, grit! Even when you’re pushing against a tide of organisational hierarchy and bureaucracy, you keep persevering in the face of resistance or apathy, because you believe in what you are doing.
4: You’re comfortable with uncertainty – you might have no idea what will happen next with your idea or initiative, or where it will take you. You’re wedded to the outcome not the journey, so if this includes your idea morphing into something different from what you imagined, you’re ok with that too.
5: You bring your whole self to work – you aren’t the kind of person who leaves their heart at the door when you walk into the (literal or virtual) office. You expect that your work should bring you a sense of purpose, and you take that responsibility very seriously.
Being an intrapreneur can be highly rewarding and satisfying. It can also be incredibly lonely, but it doesn’t have to be. During this time of dramatic shifts and uncertainty, intrapreneurs are continuing to step up to harness the assets of their organisations for impact. As we look ahead, we know that intrapreneurs will play a critical role in our recovery and ushering in a more just, equitable world post-COVID.
At Social Change Headquarters, we believe that identifying and empowering social intrapreneurs is one of the best ways to help business drive positive change in our communities. We have partnered with the League of Intrapreneurs, a global network supporting intrapreneurs to deepen their leadership capacity and create more impact through their work, and are the lead catalyst organisation for South Australia for the League.
In June, as part of Global Intrapreneur Week 2020, we kicked off our South Australian Intrapreneurs Network - a community of passionate, engaged people who want to connect with, learn from and support others who are working hard to create positive social and environmental change from within their organisations. If you would like to be part of this community, join here.
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