Intrapreneurs – More companies need to be infected by them!
When asked about my career journey, I always say that I was an "Intrapreneur before I became an Entrepreneur." What I mean by that was that before leaving to start my own companies, I had worked within big companies involved in starting new industrial plants and business changes. At the time, I knew that there was a lot of job satisfaction in tackling a new challenge but didn't realize that the companies I worked for gave me the opportunity be "entrepreneurial" within the support of a large company.
What is an Intrapreneur?
Intrapreneurs are those people in an organization who gravitate towards new ideas and challenges without being asked. They are entrepreneurs who work within a company, but not necessarily within the boundaries of the existing organization. Intrapreneurs can think beyond "how things are done now" with a vision of "how things should be done in the future." Successful companies will give Intrapreneurs the authority to take the lead in transformative changes and projects.
A good intrapreneur must have the discipline of a project manager, the motivational skills of a head coach, and commitment of an owner.
David Williams wrote an article for Forbes describing that "The 4 Essential Traits Of 'Intrapreneurs'" are:
Money is not their measurement. - Intrapreneurs certainly respect the value and importance of money. They understand the economic drivers that allow the organization to succeed and are able to support this fundamental truth and not fight it.
They are "greenhousers." - When you speak about an intriguing idea to an intrapreneur, the idea never leaves them. It germinates within their mind, and they carry with them the desire to figure out how to make it work.
They know how to pivot. - Intrapreneurs aren't afraid to change course, nor do they fear failure. It isn't outward bravado that drives them but an inner confidence and courage that every step takes them closer to their ultimate goal.
They behave authentically and with integrity. - Most importantly, intrapreneurs exhibit the traits of confidence and humility—not the maverick behavior of corporate hotshots,
Intrapreneurs are people who understand that achieving results is a complex journey that involves opportunity, innovation, risk, constraints, and people. Being able to understand these relationships, connect the right people, and synthesize solutions is essential. A good intrapreneur must have the discipline of a project manager, the motivational skills of a head coach, and commitment of an owner.
Intrapreneurs are not always the experts
Although it is vital to have experts who will know how something works, it is just as critical, to have an intrapreneur who will know how to make it work successfully. Good leaders will know who the intrapreneurs are in their company and have them tackle problems. If a company wants a project to succeed, it needs to get people involved who can "get stuff done." In fact, sometimes the best way to identify the intrapreneurs within a company is to find employees who have a completely unrelated "side-hustle"; these are entrepreneurial self-starters who do not need anyone to motivate them.
"Intrapreneurs are individuals who are dedicated to their companies but also have the fiery passion and creativity of entrepreneurs. They desire to bring revolutionary ideas to life and yield higher returns for their companies, but want and usually obtain, the freedom to do so without passing through all of the processes that exist within large companies." – The Science of People
There are many examples of great ideas or projects that get caught in "analysis paralysis" spending so much time trying to determine the perfect solution that the problem they are trying to address flounders on with no resolution. In competitive industries, it is possible to completely miss opportunities because it took too long to get a product or service to market. The benefit of having an intrapreneur involved can pay for itself exponentially.
Successful companies need Intrapreneurs
Most companies do not have a title for "Intrapreneur," and will hire an expert or experienced manager thinking that they have assigned someone with the qualifications to ensure success. Companies really should be asking is, "what is my problem, and who can solve it?" In many cases, intrapreneurial people will already have their hand up saying, "I understand the problem, and here is what I can do to help solve it."
Intrapreneurs can think beyond "how things are done now" and lead the change towards "how things should be done in the future."
Although companies build credibility and customer loyalty from their past, future success depends on the ability to change and adapt. Progressive companies need to hire and cultivate intrapreneurs to tackle challenges within all levels of the organization. Intrapreneurs are passionate about achieving results and will involve all parts of an organization to ensure success; their positive energy can be contagious. More companies should be infected with intrapreneurs!