Working with Entrepreneurial Employees

<p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Over the last few years, especially 2020, we have seen the workforce environment change drastically. Whether it is birthed from a dream or by necessity, many young people today aspire to have their own business someday. But how does that impact us as leaders and the decisions we make surrounding hiring and developing our staff?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style= "color: #0e101a;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">In this episode, we’re answering a listener question about this very subject.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style= "color: #0e101a;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Bradley from Nashville, TN posed this week's question: How would you develop employees that say they want to start their own company?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style= "color: #0e101a;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">It can be tempting, as a leader, to hear an employee aspires to own their own business and interpret that as a lack of loyalty. But that really couldn’t be further from the truth.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style= "color: #0e101a;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">A confident leader can recognize that an entrepreneurial spirit brings assets with it that a content employee may never develop. Often, those who plan to start their own company are hungry to learn and are looking to gain experience and exposure, all the while being committed to growth. If you are lucky enough to have this kind of person in your organization, take it.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style= "color: #0e101a;"> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">With this increasing trend, we have an opportunity to develop and learn from our entrepreneurial employees. They tend to be top-notch, driven, and ready to learn. Take the time, answer their questions, let them step into responsibility.