Entrepreneurial Leadership: The New Management Paradigm

Here’s a common scenario: I first meet a fellow student and we start into the common exchange of background information — hometowns, majors, postgraduate plans, career goals, other interests. When I mention that I’m an active participant in the university’s entrepreneurship programs, I will often hear the same reply, “entrepreneurship sounds like fun, but I’m not really interested in starting my own business.”

I’m going to take a moment to clarify something very important. Although the term entrepreneur generally refers to an individual who starts companies or builds them from the ground up, entrepreneurial leadership refers to a skillset or a management style that makes use of entrepreneurial principles to grow or strengthen any company or organization, whether brand new or well established. I’d like to refer to a set of eight principles taught by our very own Director of Entrepreneurial Programs, Mike Glauser, as found on the educational website he helped create. 

1. Live in the Boundary
2. Plan for Opportunities
3. Engage a Brain Trust
4. Build Powerful Teams
5. Work with Zealous Tenacity
6. Create More with Less
7. Give Distinguishing Service
8. Serve a Broader Purpose

These points are self-explanatory for the most part, however, you can learn more about each one by exploring the website.

So you plan to work for an international financial services provider? You’re interested in non-profit work? You have been given a leadership assignment in your religious congregation? You’re going to take over the family business when your parents retire? You plan to work in health care or public education administration? Regardless of the situation or chosen pursuit, these principles are applicable.

Take a moment and consider your own career goals. Would you benefit from gaining a more entrepreneurial mindset? The short answer is yes! And the long answer is definitely, yes!

Check out the many resources available through the Center for Entrepreneurial Excellence and related programs.

— Reed Page
     Executive Vice President
     USU Entrepreneurship Club