Have you ever had a great idea at work?
Were you able to do anything about it?
In 2015 that will change. Or, it should.
Smart Companies are stepping up and are willing to help internal employees to develop their ideas. Is your company one of them? I hope so.
Some of the more famous examples of Intrapreneurship include:
- Google allows employees to spend 20% of their time on personal “pet” projects.
- W.L. Gore (creators of Gore-Tex) give employees “dabble time” of 10% of their days.
- Citrix – Inspiring Intrapreneurship within the organization and investing as needed.
- Additional examples of Intrapreneurship in Action
Smart managers are encouraging their employees and their companies to think about IntraPreneurship.
Intrapreneurship is the act of behaving like an entrepreneur while working within a large organization.
Why Intrapreneurship?
It’s good for the employees and for the company. There will always be people that are willing (and able – more on this in a moment) to jump out of the organization and become an Entrepreneur. However, not everyone has that risk profile. Not everyone is willing to jump out of the organization and be responsible for all aspects of the business — sales, marketing, technical and executive duties. Not to mention raising capital, hiring employees and running the day to day aspects of a business.
Employees that can make a successful run at being an IntraPreneur will Stand Out in Their Career. Especially, if they can execute on the IntraPreneur track over and over again. In fact, W.L. Gore has a model that supports this. W.L. Gore forces groups that grow to more than 200 employees to break up. Thereby forcing and re-inforcing the IntraPreneurial spirit.
Who Make the Best IntraPreneurs?
There is no easy answer for this. However, experience seems to be showing that mixing generations is a smart option for increasing the likelihood of success. Baby Boomers, Generation X, Millennials (aka Gen Y) and Generation Z all have different experiences and perspectives. Mixing them together can be challenging at times, but in the long run can help identify and develop products and services that are Desirable, Feasable and Viable.
Employee Expectations for IntraPrenuership by Generation … and what companies can do to help them:
- Gen Y and Gen Z will expect it. Empower Them.
- Gen X and Boomers can help. Let Them.
- Contrary to some opinions … Gen X and Boomers have a lot to offer. Encourage Them.
As you start to think about yourself as an IntraPreneuer in 2015 and beyond I hope you will consider reaching out to other generations of people. You will likely be pleasantly surprised by what they can offer. Both on the younger side of the equation and the older side. They will be sounding boards and can help you see around corners and to shed light into your blind spots.
Will 2015 Be Your IntraPreneurial Year?
Will you be working as an IntrePrenuer in 2015? Will your company begin (or continue) encouraging Intrapreneurial activities?
What do you think? Are you an IntraPrenuer today? Will you become one this year?
Drop a comment here with your thoughts on how you have been doing IntraPreneurial efforts. Or ask a question to get us all working and thinking about IntraPrenuerialism. I’ll do my best to provide a quick reply and if needed to reach out to the community for the answer you are seeking.
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