Building a great career requires a blend of different behaviors. Two of the most prominent but seemingly opposite behaviors are - employee behavior and entrepreneur behavior.
Not that long ago it was thought that there was very little in common between employment and entrepreneurship but as the world of work has evolved so has the thinking about how elements of both of these behaviors are iessental to becoming a great worker.
What is Employee Behavior
Employee behavior is grounded in structure, collaboration, and accountability within an organizational structure. Employees excel by adhering to defined roles, following established protocols, and aligning their efforts with company objectives. Traits such as dependability, teamwork, and compliance are critical for ensuring smooth operations within a business. Employees thrive when they contribute to collective goals, seek guidance from leadership, and enhance their skills within structured environments.
Key characteristics of employee behavior include:
-
Role Adherence: Working within assigned duties and responsibilities.
-
Team Orientation: Fostering collaboration and mutual support.
-
Accountability: Meeting deadlines and delivering quality work.
-
Consistency: Maintaining reliability and adherence to policies.
What is Entrepreneur Behavior
Entrepreneur behavior is characterized by independence, innovation, and resilience. Entrepreneurs take calculated risks, embrace uncertainty, and assume full ownership of their outcomes. They are self-directed action takers, natural learners, visionaries, and problem-solvers that create opportunities rather than waiting for them. Entrepreneurs challenge norms and build systems to achieve long-term goals, often charting paths where none existed before.
Key traits of entrepreneur behavior include:
-
Risk Tolerance: Willingness to face uncertainty and take bold actions.
-
Visionary Thinking: Setting a clear and inspiring direction.
-
Resourcefulness: Leveraging and optimizing resources creatively.
-
Adaptability: Pivoting quickly in response to challenges.
You Need Both Behaviors for Great Career
As the world of work is ever-evoling it is becoming clearer everyday that the most siccessful workers will possess a mix of both behaviors. In the coming years, it's expected that these hybrid professionals will master the essential skills of both domains to create the very best opportunities for themselves through either employment or entrepreneurship or a mix of both.
Employee behavior provides the stability and collaborative skills needed to thrive in team environments. It ensures you can work effectively within established systems and contribute meaningfully to collective goals.
Entrepreneur behavior, however, empowers you to think beyond the status quo, take ownership of your career trajectory, and innovate solutions to complex problems. It allows you to seize opportunities, lead initiatives, and bring unique value to any role.
How to Cultivate Both Behaviors
-
Incorporate Structure and Initiative: While adhering to organizational policies, seek opportunities to take initiative and improve processes.
-
Foster Collaboration and Independence: Build strong teamwork skills but also develop the ability to work independently and take charge of projects.
-
Balance Risk and Accountability: Take calculated risks when necessary while remaining accountable for outcomes.
-
Continuously Learn and Innovate: Pursue structured learning opportunities while also exploring creative ways to apply new knowledge.
Final Thoughts
Balancing employee and entrepreneur behaviors is the key to building a successful, versatile career. By blending the structure and teamwork of employee behavior with the innovation and ownership of entrepreneur behavior, you can unlock new opportunities, achieve personal growth, and create lasting professional success. The synergy of this approache creates a worker that posseses a powerful mix behaviors and skills that is prepaered take advantage of the future of work.