Imagine an entrepreneurial version of you

By Rachel Stockey

At the Entrepreneurship Institute, we believe everyone can develop an entrepreneurial mindset. Entrepreneurs are often described as mythical beings, as if they are born with a special power that makes them stand out from the rest – and the terminology of ‘unicorns’ and ‘centaurs’ that surrounds start-ups reinforces this further. However, we know this isn’t true.

When we break down the behaviours, approaches and attitudes of a successful entrepreneur, we unlock a treasure trove of tangible skills which anyone can practise, develop and hone. That is where the Seven Skills of an Entrepreneurial Mindset come in.

Breaking it down

We have unpicked the mind and journey of an entrepreneur down to its fundamental parts so that we can help the King’s community of staff, students and alumni to learn and apply these skills for themselves.

‘Developing your entrepreneurial mindset will place you at the cutting edge of any field you wish to pursue.’ Everyone can be entrepreneurial

The best part is these skills can be applied to any sector, any career, any future. We are growing a vast community of entrepreneurial thinkers who are more disruptive (in a good way), more resilient and compelling, and more adept at getting the job done. Each one can take their entrepreneurial thinking with them into medical careers, legal professions, or companies helping to solve the world’s biggest challenges to make it a better place.

With this human power and potential, we can start to consider some mighty questions, such as:

What might our healthcare system look like if it was made up of more entrepreneurial doctors and nurses? What might our planet look like if entrepreneurial scientists were tasked with combating global warming?

What might society look like if we could harness the power for good of an entrepreneurial mindset and the potential of technology?

We want each member of our community to imagine: what could an entrepreneurial version of you be capable of?

Future-proof your skills

We need people who think more like entrepreneurs because we are in unprecedented times of change and uncertainty – there are so many big problems crying out to be solved. To meet this challenge, we need individuals who are equipped with the right mindset; one focused on finding innovative solutions, testing and learning, building strong and diverse teams, and compelling others to join their cause – whether that’s in a new company or within existing ones.

Entrepreneurial skills open up a world of discovery and opportunity, and enable you to stand out where others simply fit in. Developing your entrepreneurial mindset will place you at the cutting edge of any field you wish to pursue, to be a changemaker and a leader.

At the Entrepreneurship Institute, we believe everyone can develop an entrepreneurial mindset – and we’re here to show you how. Start now by trying some of the practical tips on the following pages, and join us at one of our upcoming programmes or events.

The Seven Skills of an Entrepreneurial Mindset

If you want a career full of innovation, excitement and purpose, then we invite you to begin developing these skills with us.

Compel

To have a powerful and irresistible effect that provokes behaviour change, exudes credibility and demands loyalty How compelling are you? Why not come along to one of our pitch nights to see how our entrepreneurs persuade an audience of their ideas, and pick up some pointers on how to become a compelling public speaker.

Disrupt

Be willing to question the way things are done and bold in proposing revolutionary, better ways of thinking and doing Disruption starts with identifying problems. Being conscious of the world around you and asking ‘how could I make this better?’ will make you a more disruptive person.

Think lean

Show dedication to rapid, continual learning and adapting through testing How comfortable would you be sharing a piece of work that you hadn’t quite finished yet? Getting used to gaining input on work before it’s ‘perfect’ will help you make valuable changes that will ultimately deliver better results.

Validate

Prove that an idea is viable and gain traction; the eradication of bias and assumption We all believe our ideas are great – but until we can prove this, it’s more of an assumption. Why not read The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick to learn how to turn your assumption into a validated idea worth pursuing.

Be resilient

Develop a rapid, thick-skinned and grounded ‘bouncebackability’ Redefining failure helps to build resilience. Every time something doesn’t go as we planned, we have an opportunity to learn and grow. Think about the last time you had a knock-back – how have you adapted as a result?

Build teams

Build teams Find, develop and grow effective teams that celebrate diversity in all its forms Working with people who are different from ourselves can be challenging, but it’s also a great opportunity for growth. Next time you’re doing group work, why not opt to join a group you’ve never worked with before?

Get it done

Get it done Prioritise execution above all else – you know that the best way to make progress is to take real action, so that’s what you do How about watching our webinar on How to Overcome Mental Blockers and Supercharge Your Productivity for more? You can find it on our KEATS hub.

Five steps to start

1. How would you rate yourself on each of the seven skills right now?

2. Can you think of examples where you or others have actively used these skills? What was the result?

3. Consider which of the seven skills you’d like to concentrate on developing.

4. Access our activities, programmes and resources, which are all designed to help you develop an entrepreneurial mindset.

5. Explore our Inspiration Station picks on page 38.