Game-Changer IO2 In-service Training Programme

The Entrepreneurial Mindset If entrepreneurship is a key transversal competence for value creation, then what do we mean when we say that someone possesses an entrepreneurial mindset? An entrepreneurial mindset is a ‘ way of thinking’ that enables individuals to overcome challenges, be decisive, and accept responsibility for their actions and outcomes. An entrepreneurial mindset can be said to be made up of five core characteristics:  1. A Positive Mental Attitude – negative thoughts can undermine progress towards a goal. A positive mindset allows you to reframe difficulties as opportunities to learn and encourages a ‘can do’ approach. A positive mental attitude not only motivates you to progress towards your goals but it also helps you to overcome any difficulties you face along the way;  2. A Creative Mindset – creativity is not just about developing an innovative product or a unique piece art, creativity is about making connections, both theoretically and practically. A creative mindset enables you to solve problems by developing creative solutions. Exploring and developing your own creativity is a vital process in the quest to become a more creative thinker;  3. Persuasive Communication Ability – the power of persuasion can help you to negotiate a deal, secure vital investment, sell a product or service and build support for an entrepreneurial initiative. Persuasion is not about misleading, it is about convincing others that your ideas deserve to be supported. This is a key communication technique in any situation as it enables you to secure support from others to help you to achieve your goals;  4. Intrinsic Motivation and Drive – self-motivation, aspiration and drive are key personal traits of any successful entrepreneur. Success does not just happen, you have to want it and work hard to achieve it. A motivation to succeed can be a strong driving force for positive actions and ensures that you keep working towards your goals;  5. Tenacity and an Ability to Learn from Failure – learning from mistakes and failures is a key to any successful endeavour. Very few initiatives run smoothly from start to finish and there will always be difficulties along the way. The key is to not give up when things become difficult but to take positive lessons from your failures in order to improve your future actions. An entrepreneurial mindset requires a constant need to develop new and existing skills, to learn from mistakes, and to take continuous practical actions that build on their ideas. The EntreComp Framework attempts to explain and understand the entrepreneurial mindset by exploring the many different facets and competences of an entrepreneur.