Do You Have What It Takes to Be an Intrapreneur?

Virgin could never have grown into the group of more than 200 companies it is now, were it not for a steady stream of intrapreneurs who looked for and developed opportunities, often leading efforts that went against the grain.

Sir Richard Branson

An intrapreneur is a corporate employee who displays the entrepreneurial spirit in how she or he approaches the job. She is also known as the entrepreneur on the job. The intrapreneur applies flexibility, innovation and risk taking in bringing new products and services to the market; as well as launching change initiatives within an organization. Additionally, he implements ideas through direct responsibility, proactivity and self-motivation.

Why is the role of an intrapreneur very much key to today’s organization’s growth and sustainability?

1. According to a 2014 Pew Research Center Findings Report only 48% of American workers happy with their job.
2. A 2013 Gallup Report shows that only 30% of employees are engaged.

What’s the bottom line for these two statistics? Gallup estimates that costs to companies are $450-$550 billion annually. As an employer, you then would be happy to figure out how to engage employees to minimize the cost of disengagement, right? It’s actually not quite that simple. Many disengaged employees are quite happy to remain in that role even if the work environment improves. Applying the entrepreneurial spirit to one’s job isn’t for everyone. How do you know then if you have what it takes to be an intrapreneur?

Intrapreneurship is for:

• Someone who enjoys being the creator of her own job experience and who is inner-driven. Your motivation to succeed and derive meaning from has to be something that percolates intrinsically. If you rely on others to cheer you on and boost your own self-esteem, you’ll feel lost in your intrapreneurship role.
• The person who also is more focused on serving and doing good within the company than the employee who constantly asks “What’s in it for me?” This isn’t to say that you’re not motivated by money, but it’s not what primarily drives you. You’re focused on your job supporting your personal mission. And that’s what matters to you primarily.
• The employee who is a master networker and collaborator. You understand that in order to get things done, you need to work yourself through chains of command and work with people at all levels within an organization. While you might be leading the initiative, you know that you aren’t anything without the help of others and their buy-in.
• The team member who wants to redefine business as usual. “We don’t break through and transform history from the top, but from the bottom. ~Richard Rohr~” You’re not afraid to ruffle some feathers and can easily handle nay-sayers. You possess the power of persuasion and are able to align people to see the greater good.
• The individual who gladly serves as the organization’s brand ambassador. You know how to tell your company’s story because it’s something that you fully support. You’re committed to getting to know both the internal and external customers so you can understand how to improve the business. Plus, you’re not shy about using social media to toot your company’s horn.

If any of these areas resonate with you, I encourage you to take the lead in developing your role as an intrapreneur within an organization. While there are many organizations that are catching on to the value of encouraging employees to act as intrapreneurs, this isn’t absolutely commonplace, yet. It might be entirely up to you to craft this new role within your company. But do take the risk and approach a leader that you feel would support you in this endeavor. It will be one of the most fulfilling career moves you can make.

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