Entrepreneurs challenge the status quo to help the world progress. Without entrepreneurs we would not have electricity, cars, and the ability to launch rockets into orbit. When thinking about this, we realize the brain power found within entrepreneurs, so why is it that most companies steer clear of hiring entrepreneurs?
A majority of companies have existing operations in place, that run how those higher up want them to run, offering a sense of predictability. In comes the entrepreneur…
Entrepreneur: Hey boss, can I ask you a question.
Boss: Sure.
Entrepreneur: Why are we doing things like this when we can increase efficiency by doing this like our competitor whose crushing it?
Boss: Well, that’s our style. I would suggest you tread lightly because a lot of people are sensitive to this.
Entrepreneur: Ok, thank you for your advice.
Meanwhile the longterm boss is wondering who is this person, while the entrepreneur is wondering what they got themselves into working for an organization that is clearly not progressing and headed for a downhill ride if they fail to innovate in the way they do business, but most important, in the way they think and act. Unfortunately, most humans are conditioned to uphold the status quo because our society injects a lot of fear to control how people function, forcing the mass of society into a scarcity mindset to take a job in order to keep the economic wheel spinning. The system in place today is about consistent outputs to have a consistent economy that those at the top can forecast.
The reality is this…
Numerous employees are not engaged in the work they do, with over 50% feeling unattached to the work they’re doing. Many employees are simply showing up to earn a paycheck to survive, pay their bills, and live out their adult existence in a job they do not like. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, seek out organizations that are aligned with their values, personal brand mission, and entrepreneurial spirit. Entrepreneurs often find themselves leading new programs or helping companies during interesting times of transition, being valued by the top for their ingenuity, tenacious attitude, and adaptability until the dust settles.
Companies don’t like hiring entrepreneurs because they present a threat.
Employers are often concerned that entrepreneurs will:
- Disrupt the status quo.
- Take ideas and run with them, even if the company is in no position to execute on said idea.
- Challenge the position of leaders to do more, and in real time.
- Speak up and out on issues impacting their fellow employees in toxic work environments.
- Outshine tenured staff who are in self-preservation mode and then move on.
As you can see, none of these are good reasons to not hire entrepreneurs.
Companies can gain a lot from entrepreneurs if they have the right programs, policies, and leadership in place to manage the psychology of A-game players who are drivers, change makers, innovators, dreamers, and corporate shapers. Instead of saying no and rejecting talented entrepreneurs, I say hire them! As someone who has worked in Fortune 500 companies after being recruited for having an “entrepreneurial mindset,” the following strategies can help your business grow to new levels:
- Let entrepreneurs work directly with senior leaders and cut the red tape on your reporting matrix. Have someone who oversees them during their first 30 days to vett their thinking before bringing them to the C-suite for an intro to the braintrust of your organization. Entrepreneurs think big and they execute, so make sure they are with people who can turn their intellectual property into your company’s next big idea! Don’t keep big people small.
- Give them a trusted outlet to voice their concerns, areas for improvement, and constructive criticism of your organization. If you’re willing to hire a consultant to do this at an added expense, you need to consider allowing your talent in-house to voice the good, bad, and ugly to improve your organization.
- Mentor entrepreneurs to be vertical CEOs within your company and encourage them to collaborate across verticals to improve idea sharing, optimal utilization of resources, and forward-thinking ways to respond to realtime challenges.
- Hire entrepreneurs as your Chief of Staff. Common within military organizations and government agencies, the Chief of Staff is a critical role. These people are highly skilled in executive decision making and communicating to the troops downstream to move a leader’s vision forward. This role is an excellent choice for entrepreneurs because entrepreneurs have the mindset necessary to prioritize competing tasks while staying high-level to execute the overall strategy, moving the pieces around on the chess board for the big win.
- Harness the power of an entrepreneur’s innovative mindset and the vast experiences they bring, both in terms of life experience and professional experience. Issues like culture are rooted in ideology and can only be addressed when someone has the perspective to articulate alternative ways of being, doing, and thinking. If you hire people who have never left their comfort zone, your growth will be limited. From diversity, equity, and inclusion programs to new ways to sell, entrepreneurs offer companies the ability to cut through the crap and get to the point, taking a leadership role.
Bottomline, you shouldn’t hire an entrepreneur if you want everything to stay the same. You should hire an entrepreneur when you are ready to grow, scale, and change. Entrepreneurs offer dynamic perspectives, and the right attitude to move the needle so your business can evolve in these disruptive times.
Have you hired an entrepreneur or been an entrepreneur working in a corporate environment? Let me know how it worked out in the comments below ?
