Wednesday, June 07, 2006

I've recently experienced several situations that exemplify the difference between entrepreneurial and collaborative personalities and attitudes.

They don't have to be opposing dispositions.
The company I work for is supposed to be both collaborative and entrepreneurial, attempting to merge the characteristics of both into the leaders and companies we support.

In the past, I have found that I am not one to exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit. I'm not certain exactly why that is. Perhaps I'm risk-averse or lack the confidence. But I don't think it's just that. I'm also not the best networker, self-promoter, nor do I really have the drive to do it.

So I suppose that I've thought that the this was a difficult quality to cultivate.

However, recently, I have been overwhelmed with the number of people in my life who espouse entrepreneurial characteristics. And I have found these same people to lack a collaborative attitude.

They seem to be very individual and attack problems on a "I can solve it, just leave me to it" kind of way.

I'm finding it frustrating, to be honest.
I'm a very collaborative type of person. I suppose that I've always thought this was easy. Turns out that it is not.

It is certainly difficult to collaborate with people who do not have the appropriate skills, do not want to share, or who simply let you down at every turn. How does one continue to collaborate with such people?


Explain what is bothering you and how it can be improved and wait while they get upset and/or deny that they have done anything wrong?

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