Pic: IMAGESBAZAAR

In our highly competitive world, it is important that businesses grow at all levels and in every direction. We therefore need "intrapreneurs" who are willing to take ownership of parts of the organisation, thus leading them to success

We define an "entrepreneur" as one who relinquishes what is safe and secure to set out to make his/her dreams come true. However, not all with an entrepreneurial mindset choose this path. There are some who choose to be ‘intrapreneurs'. They conform to become a part of an organisation by making its success their own responsibility. Such employees are highly sought after. Organisations aim at having several such intrapreneurs under their own roof. "If our employees have an entrepreneurial mindset, they will add value to the business at every level, thus making the organisation's response much faster and more effective. Employees will be more accountable and responsible for their actions and we wouldn't need bureaucratic controls to manage day-to-day operations. This is why organisations look for an entrepreneurial ability in all their employees," says Bhasker Bhandary, director, HR, Acer India.

However, such individuals need enough space and freedom to use their potential. The lack of either would lead to dissatisfaction with work as well as the company and organisations should know better than to let such enterprising individuals go. Hence, in order to nurture them and their abilities, "The first thing that an organisation must do is to create an ecosystem, which enhances the entrepreneurial ability of the employee. The management must create a culture that is motivating, exciting, flexible and gives employees enough room to grow. Often, organisations can be process-driven and leaders can lose the plot in micromanagement. One has to give as much independence as one can give to employees through flat hierarchies, decentralisation and by empowering them to run their own destinies," advises Richard Rekhy, head advisory, KPMG India. Companies need to foster an entrepreneurial mindset amongst its employees to achieve their goals. Employees need to adopt the habits and behaviour of entrepreneurs to succeed in the long run and effectively align themselves with the company's goals.

However, what makes such individuals highly indispensable and why is the organisation's success entwined with their attitude? Bhandary explains, "They possess the ability to understand the vision and mission of the company and work towards it. They are also able to foresee challenges at every level and be prepared with a counterstrike." Also, innovation spurs from the ability to take risks. And with this ability, one must possess the ability to take ownership as well. "Creative and fresh ideas must come from every level instead of them only cascading from the top. People involved in a particular function understand its requirements and issues more intricately. Hence, it becomes important to address these issues locally. For this very reason, we need intrapreneurs to offer solutions and take on responsibility at every step," says P Dwarkanath, director, group human capital, Max India.

To make full use of their talents and offer them a certain level control, it is important that your set of intrapreneurs are involved in strategic business planning and every stages of policy formulation. "An entrepreneurial employee will display high levels of enthusiasm and energy. This has a multiplier effect throughout the organisation. They have the ability to fire the imagination of people around them and in turn, stimulate high performance. These traits coupled with the ability to lead, take on risks and drive change, are factors that produce results," believes Rekhy.

We all are well-aware of the effect of entrepreneurs on the economy. They are the drivers and their contribution is indispensable. An organisation is a facsimile of our economy. It shapes the lives of its ‘citizens' and also needs several such drivers or intrapreneurs at every stage to keep it alive and kicking. As Rekhy quite perceptively points out, "Think of all the ways through which a company grows and you will come up with all the traits of an entrepreneur or in the corporate context, referred to as the ‘intraprenuer'."

- Tanya Thomas

The writer can be reached at tanya.thomas@timesgroup.com