Entrepreneurial Mindset Social is a special interest group of the Entrepreneurial Mindset Network. It supports social entrepreneurs, employees and citizens in the creation of value in society. We provide an entrepreneurial mindset definition, share entrepreneurial mindset examples, offer international networking opportunities and deliver entrepreneurial mindset training.

What makes this definition of the entrepreneurial mindset distinctive is that is based on entrepreneurial behaviours. The focus is on helping people to think, act and behave like an entrepreneur. This definition of the entrepreneurial mindset is relevant not just to entrepreneurs but also employees in the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Other definitions of the entrepreneurial mindset focus on skills. However, these definitions are often made up of generic business or transferable skills, and they fail to capture the distinct nature of entrepreneurship. Action, and therefore behaviour, is central to the concept of entrepreneurship. Skills are the abilities you have learned. Behaviour is the act of putting those skills to good use.

The advantage of our approach is that people can learn to change their behaviours and make good use of their existing knowledge and skills. People are often trained in a range of skills that they may or may not use. We describe our 7 entrepreneurial behaviours as essential not optional. Essential behaviours challenge people to make full use of their skills.

Our proposition is that employees often have the right skills, they just need to change their behaviours. Entrepreneurs and employees may work in very different contexts yet they possess similar skills. What distinguishes entrepreneurs from employees is how they behave, the way they apply those skills. Employees can gain substantial benefits by adopting an entrepreneurial mindset.

7 key ideas about the entrepreneurial mindset

These 7 Key Ideas will quickly help you to appreciate that anyone can gain benefits from thinking and acting like an entrepreneur. Whoever you are, and wherever you live, the mindset will help you to to keep motivated, to cope with all the challenges of the modern world and to achieve your life goals.

1 There is a common sense definition of the mindset. Many people use the phrase “entrepreneurial mindset” but it is often used in a vague or ill-defined way. The Entrepreneurial Mindset Network has created an easy to understand, common sense and practical definition of the entrepreneurial mindset based on 7 essential entrepreneurial behaviours.This definition is relevant to individuals, organisations and society, to every culture and country.

2 The mindset is not only for entrepreneurs. You don't have to be running your own business to gain the benefits of the entrepreneurial mindset. You can learn to think and act like an entrepreneur if you are an employee in the private, public or not-for-profit sectors. You can use the mindset to create cultural, economic, environmental and social value. You can use the entrepreneurial mindset to make your unique contribution to the world.

3 Anyone can learn to develop the mindset. Entrepreneurs enjoy success in life because of their behaviours ie the way they think and act. It is not the case that only some people are born with the right mindset. Anyone can learn to mimic these entrepreneurial behaviours and use them to achieve their own career & life goals. The mindset is inclusive and celebrates diversity as a catalyst for innovation.

4 The mindset brings real benefits. People from all over the world tell us that there are many benefits to having an entrepreneurial mindset including: a clearer sense of purpose, more creative ideas, an ability to speak up & challenge the status quo, a greater appetite for calculated risk taking, stronger networking & collaboration, higher levels of job satisfaction and an improved work/life balance.

5 The mindset is a 'must have' not 'a nice to have'. An entrepreneurial mindset is essential nowadays if you want to be able to cope with a world that is increasingly complex and uncertain. The right mindset will enable you to stay confident, to see opportunities and to overcome challenges. With the mindset you ask yourself “how can I make this happen?” Without the mindset, life can feel overwhelming and it is easy to lose your sense of control.

6 We need to be aware of the hype and be realistic. There are many stories of successful entrepreneurs in the media. That success does not come easily. The truth is that entrepreneurs face many difficult financial challenges and mental health pressures. Therefore, the entrepreneurial mindset isn’t just wishful thinking. It means being prepared to put the hard work in and being resilient during the difficult times in your entrepreneurial journey.

7 The mindset can help you change the world. Entrepreneurs choose to take personal responsibility for making change happen. Like an entrepreneur, you say to yourself "I think this change is important - how am I going to make it happen?" Each of us can make our contribution. An entrepreneurial mindset empowers you to take action about the things you really care about. The right mindset can help you change the world.

Mindset Workshops

The Entrepreneurial Mindset Network provides a range of workshops and master classes that accelerate the development of the mindset. These events are engaging, realistic, inclusive, make the most of your existing expertise and create actions that are designed to support real change. Following completion of a master class, participants have the option to add an award to the Education section of their LinkedIn profile. 

5 Reasons our Master Classes are Distinctive and Impactful.

1 We make our Master Classes engaging. We focus on discussions and practical exercises. We keep the formal input brief and to the point. We keep it interesting and relevant.

2 We keep it real. We talk about what it is really like. We facilitate discussion of positive points and frustrations. We don’t shy away from the difficult issues.

3 We are inclusive. We make sure every voice is heard. We help you to innovate by considering different points of view. We facilitate the crowdsourcing and co-creation of practical solutions.

4 We make the most of your existing expertise. We assume that each participant has useful experience to share. We offer a framework that helps you to make the best of your existing knowledge and skills. We capture and reflect back your best ideas.

5 We focus on actions to generate real change. We make sure you can take action as soon as you get back to your desk. We help you to make professional choices. We fire up your motivation and commitment to getting things done.

MINDSET PROFILE TOOL

You can gain invaluable feedback about your entrepreneurial mindset by using our online MINDSET Profile Tool. It is not the case that you either have the mindset or you don't, that you are either born with it or not. Each person can develop the strength of their entrepreneurial mindset over time and improve the way they think and act like an entrepreneur. Everybody can go on this entrepreneurial journey and the MINDSET Profile Tool will help you.

The Tool is designed to make you think, by asking you questions about your entrepreneuriual behaviours. By considering the questions and choosing your answers, you will be able to reflect on those behaviours. You will receive immediate feedback on screen. Afterwards you will immediately receive an email with the questions, your answers and some brief advice about how to make progress with your entrepreneurial behaviours in the future.

People who have used the MINDSET Profile Tool are based in the following 38 countries: Albania🇦🇱, Angola🇦🇴, Austria🇦🇹,

Belgium🇧🇪,Bosnia and Herzegovina🇧🇦, Canada🇨🇦, Egypt 🇪🇬, England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿, Estonia 🇪🇪, France🇫🇷, Germany🇩🇪, India🇮🇳,

Ireland🇮🇪, Italy🇮🇹, Jordan🇯🇴,Lebanon🇱🇧, Malawi🇲🇼, Mauritius🇲🇺, Morocco🇲🇦, Netherlands🇳🇱, Northern Ireland🇬🇧, Nigeria🇳🇬,

Norway🇳🇴, Oman🇴🇲, Pakistan🇵🇰,Poland 🇵🇱, Portugal 🇵🇹, Russia🇷🇺, Saudi Arabia🇸🇦, Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿, Singapore 🇸🇬,

South Africa🇿🇦, Spain🇪🇸, Taiwan🇹🇼, Tunisia🇹🇳, USA🇺🇸, Wales🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 and Zambia🇿🇲.