Top 7 Entrepreneurial Attitudes, Personalities, and Work Styles You Must Follow

There is a new breed of employees emerging in the workplace: the “intrapreneur”, or an entrepreneur who works for an employer instead of running their own business.

Having entrepreneurial attitudes, personalities, and work styles means that one has self-motivation and single-mindedness to see projects from ideas to fruition. These kinds of entrepreneurs are multi-faceted and can be of great value when working for a company.

Intrapreneurs are out-of-the-box thinkers and disruptors — just the kind of people companies need to innovate or even overhaul their products or policies. Those who have the entrepreneurial spirit are the changemakers, always looking for something to do or fix. They keep pushing themselves forwards and with them their team.

Pros and Cons of Having an Entrepreneurial Culture at work

When an entrepreneurial culture is fostered at work, certain good habits begin to take root. You’ll realise the importance of a good work ethic and motivation, and because of that, you’ll be more inclined to start from zero — even after failing. At the same time, being an intrapreneur means giving up some freedoms that entrepreneurs enjoy — the most important of which is not having the authority to take risks until the higher-ups approve.

Employees who are employed in a company with an entrepreneurial attitude often have high-stress levels due to working long hours. An entrepreneurial culture also lacks structure, which can be good for those with an entrepreneurial mindset but chaotic for an employee that prefers boundaries.

Being an intrapreneur in the 21st century is not for the fickle-hearted. It takes a lot of confidence and dedication. Entrepreneurs dream big but don’t assume that all those with an entrepreneurial spirit want to be their own boss. A lot of people with an entrepreneurial spirit enjoy working in a company setup, especially if they have some leeway in the way their department works. In a team setup, they make good leaders who are able to pull the team together and get them to work.

Whether in your own company or someone else’s, learning the positive attributes of those with an entrepreneurial spirit will help you pull ahead of the crowd. All successful businesspeople have at least a few of these characteristics.

Entrepreneurial Attitudes, Personalities, and Work Styles

1. An intrapreneur has determination.

If you love what you do, you will naturally be driven to perform your best. You will feel a sense of ownership in your job and be committed to the company’s vision and goals. It’s not just a job to you—it’s a vision or idea you genuinely believe in, and a chance to make a difference.

Determination is one of the key characteristics you’ll find in business owners. There will be times when you’re going to be the only one cheering yourself on. Entrepreneurs must have both passion and determination to see their companies and projects through. Throw in a positive attitude and your entrepreneurial spirit will be infectious. The boss always sets the tone for the rest of the team or company. A determined but positive spirit can help inspire and drive up team morale.

(Read more: How to Connect Your Passion and Career For Meaningful Success )

2. An intrapreneur is optimistic.

Your enthusiasm and positive energy about new projects and challenges will make you the glue that holds the team together. Optimism keeps the team going, and that trickles down not just to employees but also stakeholders and customers.

With an entrepreneurial spirit, bringing your vision to life requires endless optimism to fuel the hard work you’re set to do. Don’t let fear of failure hold you back. Allowing yourself to make mistakes also helps you rebound quickly from setbacks. Also, make sure your team knows it’s okay to make their own mistakes too, as long as the lesson is learnt. While giving up is never an option, failing is — and that’s okay.

3. An intrapreneur is a visionary.

When you keep your eyes focused on the big picture, your actions and decisions will be driven by the desire to achieve those goals. While your grand ideas might seem impractical to some, being able to take the long view is what motivates people to keep innovating and pushing the boundaries.

What makes an entrepreneurial spirit so relevant in any business today is the willingness to evolve. An entrepreneurial mindset keeps on thinking of new improvements and doesn’t get mired in doing things the same way.

4. An intrapreneur is resourceful.

Your can-do attitude makes you a valuable resource in the organisation in more ways than one. You’ll always find a way to overcome obstacles and limitations. Where others would have given up in despair, you come up with unexpectedly creative workarounds that get the job done.

An entrepreneurial attitude means that processes and products can always be improved; you just have to “think different.”

Good entrepreneurs know the value of being open and flexible, but not when it comes to their core values. Sometimes the need to make a profit becomes what’s paramount, which is understandable — as long as it doesn’t compromise your company’s core values.

5. An intrapreneur is a self-starter.

Unlike those who talk a good game but do absolutely nothing, you just get on with your job. You have so many ideas you’d love to work on that you have no time for anything remotely unproductive. Once you complete a project, you can’t wait to start the next. It’s just the way you’re wired.

Whether it's to build a team from the ground up, improve company productivity, or revamp company processes, it is the implementation of your plans that prove your worth as an independent-thinking employee. Detailed planning is always good, but make sure that you aren’t getting bogged down with so many details. Remember your purpose: to take the actual project to the end goal.

Those who identify themselves as having an entrepreneurial spirit know how important it is to stay active on a project and get things done. In companies, many workers just toe the company line without question. Independent thinkers want to revolutionise and innovate.

(Read more: 5 Easy Ways To Self-Check Your Career Development )

6. An intrapreneur takes risks.

You believe in taking leaps of faith when necessary. While risk management is important, there are times when taking risks outweighs the benefits of playing it safe. Without change, there can be no progress, and change often comes with a certain level of risk.

It’s no surprise that progressive employers are on the lookout for professionals with entrepreneurial attributes — these intrapreneurs will be far more dedicated than passive employees who are only there for the monthly paycheck. Maybe it’s time for you to flex those entrepreneurial muscles at work!

Taking risks based on business metrics does shake things up, but true intrapreneurs know when it’s time to take a gamble or when to keep their heads down and prepare for the next move. Most intrapreneurs take risk management seriously. They study their playbook and make tweaks and modifications as they see necessary. All strategies should be flexible, including the person who wrote the playbook.

7. An intrapreneur is a leading team player.

One of the most important lessons entrepreneurs learn is that a leader has to be a team player as well. However, this doesn’t mean all team leaders are extroverts. Some are more comfortable working in a quieter environment and let their work speak for itself. In this case, a good leader, no matter how introverted, still knows how to act confident. They can get people to sit up and pay attention to what they are presenting.

You may call the shots, but having a good rapport with your team will help polish each member, developing and instilling in them strong intrapreneurial values and skills.

Regardless of whether you own your own company or work for one, organisational and leadership shortcomings can be resolved or mitigated with the entrepreneurial attitudes, personalities, and work styles described here. These are traits that will serve you well throughout your career and may be your best asset.

Ready to #SEEKBetter jobs?

Create or update your profile today. For more tips on landing your dream job, visit the Career Resources page.