Profiles in Success - Entrepreneurial Competence Part 2

Given the constraints of time, we couldn't pursue these additional traits with any degree of detail. What follows are the remaining characteristics of successful entrepreneurs. We will weave a more detailed description of each over the next two weeks as we discuss the ownership demands of each growth stage.

Planning Orientation - what are the components?

• Information Seeking
• Goal Setting
• Systematic Planning and Monitoring

Information Seeking - what are the behaviors you would see as evidence?

• personally seeks information from clients, suppliers, and competitors
• does personal research on how to provide a product of service
• consults experts for business or technical data

Goal Setting - what are the behaviors you would see as evidence?

• sets goals and objectives that are personally meaningful and challenging
• articulates clear and specific long range goals
• sets measurable short term objectives

Systematic Planning and Monitoring - what are the behaviors you would see as evidence?

• plans by breaking large tasks down into time-constrained sub-tasks
• revises plans in light of feedback on performance or changing circumstances
• keeps financial records and uses them to make business decisions

Influence Choices - what are the components?

• Persuasion and Networking
• Independence and Self-Confidence

Persuasion and Networking - what are the behaviors you would see as evidence?

• uses deliberate strategies to influence or persuade others
• uses key people as agents to accomplish own objectives
• acts to develop and maintain business contacts

Independence and Self-Confidence - what are the behaviors you would see as evidence?

• seeks autonomy from rules or control of others
• sticks with own judgment in the face of opposition or early lack of successful
• expresses confidence in own ability to complete a difficult task or meet a challenge

Given this exercise of digging deep into our knowledge base, we will design a quick survey for anyone interested in assessing where they stand on the competencies. Look for a post on this topic in the next few days.