Quiz: How entrepreneurial are you?

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You don’t need to be a business owner to be entrepreneurial! We’re looking at the ways your business savvy thinking can help your career.

Ask ten entrepreneurs what makes them successful business owners and you’re likely to get ten different answers. But a survey of 2,500 start-up founders  identified at least ten key qualities that successful businesswomen possess. [i]

Whether you’re looking to fly solo or are curious how your innate entrepreneurial talents may be benefiting your organisation, take our quiz to test your entrepreneurial IQ.

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Write the numbers one to thirty in a column on a piece of paper, or check the box next to each statement. Put a tick next to each of the corresponding statements you agree with. 

1.  When given long-term targets, I break them down into short-term goals I’ll meet along the way.

2.  When faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges, I have a deep,
innermost conviction that I will succeed.

3.  I prefer to keep elements of my ideas private, only sharing those I need help with.

4.  When problem solving I like to get input from my trusted network – more heads
are always better than one.

5.  When unforeseen obstacles throw me off course, I throw myself into creating a
revised plan.

6.  I prefer to focus on my single area of expertise than to multitask or be seen as a
‘jack of all trades’.

7.  If there’s something I don’t know, I feel compelled to seek out the answer.

8.  Colleagues generally respond enthusiastically and positively when I share my ideas.

9.  When meeting a new colleague, client or stakeholder for the first time, I try to find out what they most need from me.

10.  It makes sense to choose the option with the least risk attached.

11.  I prefer to focus on ideas and let others look after the ‘how’.

12.  There have been occasions that I am so sure of my idea that I’ve been able to convince someone who was previously reticent.

13.  After completing a task or project, I take time to focus on how I’ll do it better next time.

14.  If a project is going in the wrong direction, it’s better to speak up, even at the eleventh hour.

15.  When all signs point to failure, it’s important to carry on regardless.

16.  I enjoy having sole responsibility of critical business tasks.

17.  I systematically store information, clip articles and keep records of knowledge, expertise and facts that may help me further down the line.

18.  I haven’t crafted my own personal elevator pitch – I’m not a natural salesperson.

19.  It’s better to have a large network of people you know a little, than a small network of people you know well.

20. Some of my biggest professional successes have been born of a personal risk.

21.  When making to-do lists, I prioritise tasks that directly impact on my professional goals.

22.  When facing a complex situation I don’t fully understand, I prefer to forge ahead
rather than stall or do nothing.

23.  I regularly re-evaluate my professional and personal goals to ensure they’re
still relevant to my future plans.

24.  If creating a dream team to bring one of my ideas to life, I’d delegate tasks to each member but retain all decision-making for myself.

25.  During some of my most stressful periods, I’ve been at my most motivated, optimistic
and productive.

26. I am confident getting to grips with areas outside my knowledge base and have
even been known to become something of an expert over time.

27.  I prefer to take a general overview of a situation rather than get bogged down in data.

28.  When telling others about my current projects, I prefer to tell stories than to reel
off facts.

29.  I enjoy getting to know people from all walks of life.

30.  At the start of a project I take time to think about what could go wrong, and adjust
my plan accordingly.

 

Your results – there are a total of three points available for each section relating to one of the ten entrepreneurial qualities.

The great business mind (score one point each for questions 1 and 21; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 11)

Highly successful entrepreneurs have a hunger for profit, and enter into all business activity mindful of how it could impact the bottom line. Instinctive, highly organised when it comes to operational costs and deeply analytical –
often spotting hidden meanings in data which go unnoticed by others -entrepreneurs are able to balance their long-term vision with their short-term goals. Applied in a corporate environment, these entrepreneurial qualities are
evident in a person with deep and clear focus and efficiency, close attention to detail and ability to see the bigger picture.    

The confident self-starter (score one point each for questions 2 and 12; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 22)

In order to navigate the volatility and ambiguity of the business world, the successful entrepreneur must have rock-solid belief in themselves and their vision. Where they see opportunities, they have the confidence to take action,
and where they lack the knowledge required to make decisions, they take confidence from discovering answers among their networks. Applied in the corporate world, entrepreneurial confidence is likely to manifest in someone who is
seen as self-assured and passionate about their beliefs, trusts their own judgement and grows through active learning.

The creative powerhouse (score one point each for questions 13 and 23; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 3)

Entrepreneurs never rest on their laurels, always looking for the next novel idea that’s going to move their business on to the next level. Quick to act, entrepreneurs instinctively know the right time to bring an idea to life and
that sharing fosters team engagement. In the corporate world, the creative entrepreneur is the one who’s always asking: “How can we make this even better?” With a strong emphasis on quality, they enjoy keeping abreast of new
developments and find inspiration in the most mundane sources.

The delegator extraordinaire (score one point each for questions 4 and 14; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 24)

The effective entrepreneur generates ideas at a mile a minute, but is smart enough to know that help is required to bring them to life. While the buck always stops with them, delegators know that the most engaged teams are the ones
who have ownership of their tasks. The delegator in a corporate environment is likely to be seen as a great people manager who fosters true team spirit in the ranks.

The determinator (score one point each for questions 5 and 25; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 15)

When the going gets tough, the tough get going, and that’s certainly true of entrepreneurs, who not only weather the darkest of storms, but often appear to emerge even stronger and more driven than before. Resilience is a key
requisite of running a business; successful entrepreneurs are able to see beyond the storm clouds or understand when to cut their losses and try a different path. Applied in a corporate environment, the characteristics of a
determined entrepreneur are demonstrable in an employee who is able to rally the troops in difficult times, forges on while others flounder, and effectively handles stress.

The independent thinker (score one point each for questions 16 and 26; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 6)

Delegation and team-building are critical in the long run, but the early doors entrepreneur is confident in her ability to wear many hats, stepping into multiple different business roles and functions, sometimes in the passing of
just one business day. The independently-minded entrepreneur is easy to spot in organisations, where their commitment, well-roundedness and ability to turn a hand to anything shine through.

The knowledge seeker (score one point each for questions 7 and 17; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 27)

The successful entrepreneur knows that the more knowledge they acquire, the most powerful their business pursuits are likely to be. Natural collectors of data and information, they have mental libraries of facts and figures, stored
away for future reference. In corporate environments, the knowledge-seeking entrepreneurs are highly useful people to whom others are naturally drawn when they want to unearth obscure information.

The promoter (score one point each for questions 8 and 28; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 18)

The promotional entrepreneur embodies the values of their fledging enterprise and is able to captivate stakeholders and customers alike with passion for their product. In the corporate environment, this characteristic shines through
in the best communicators – those who know that it’s human stories rather than dry facts that have the power to engage, and who spend time crafting their personal brand.

The connector (score one point each for questions 9 and 29; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 19)

The connective entrepreneur knows that quality wins over quantity when it comes to networking. Always looking to deepen relationships, connectors are great listeners who love to solve problems for others. In the corporate world,
such types are invaluable enablers who enjoy making connections that lead to successful relationships, ventures, and outcomes. Trusted communicators, they are sensitive to others’ needs and approach relationships with longevity in
mind.

The risk-taker (score one point each for questions 20 and 30; add a bonus point if you did not answer yes to question 10)

Starting up your own business can be a risk in itself, but that’s often nothing compared to some of the decisions you’ll encounter along the way. Seasoned entrepreneurs are comfortable taking calculated risks and often attribute
some of their greatest successes to running with a venture that had no guarantee of success. Risks are just as necessary in the corporate world as they are in small enterprises, and those who are able to take calculated risks are
likely to be seen as willing to grow, committed to the organisation and embodying the traits of a potential leader.

 

[i] Gallup http://www.gallup.com/businessjournal/168527/talents-drive-entrepreneurial-success

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