Being a student of Business and Social Enterprise, it is important for us to learn more about the different traits a successful social entrepreneur should possess. Some of the common traits that are usually mentioned would be that social entrepreneurs have to be innovative, resourceful, passionate etc.
However social entrepreneurs are more than just that (:
After reading several articles, i've picked up 3 main traits;
However social entrepreneurs are more than just that (:
After reading several articles, i've picked up 3 main traits;
1) Ability to face failures
Most social entrepreneurs have been through lots of changes and edits since they venture from their initial idea and faced lots of obstacles through the way but what matters most is how they actually handle the situation. Through the way, their idea may doubted on and it takes courage for one to able to face and accept failure. When one takes failure positively, it reaps positive results. Therefore it is important that social entrepreneurs hold such positive attitude when faced with failures for that is when they learn and improve from their mistakes made.
2) Socially Aware
Being connected to the community and social issues is especially beneficial to social entrepreneurs as it allows them to spot social concerns/issues that are often overlook or underestimated. Therefore, social entrepreneurs are always on alert for opportunities.
3) Willingness to share credit
Most social entrepreneurs have been through lots of changes and edits since they venture from their initial idea and faced lots of obstacles through the way but what matters most is how they actually handle the situation. Through the way, their idea may doubted on and it takes courage for one to able to face and accept failure. When one takes failure positively, it reaps positive results. Therefore it is important that social entrepreneurs hold such positive attitude when faced with failures for that is when they learn and improve from their mistakes made.
2) Socially Aware
Being connected to the community and social issues is especially beneficial to social entrepreneurs as it allows them to spot social concerns/issues that are often overlook or underestimated. Therefore, social entrepreneurs are always on alert for opportunities.
3) Willingness to share credit
"There is no limit to what you can achieve if you don't care who gets the credit" - David Kuria
& i totally agree with this sentence! (: So true, isn't it?
Unlike business entrepreneurs where they are so competitive and profit-driven, social entrepreneurs should practise otherwise. Being a true social entrepreneur comes with a true intention. If your intention is real, sharing of wealth (wealth of societal impact) comes naturally. However if the intention is to gain fame, money etc, it will be against the sharing of wealth where everything you do will be self-centred, focusing on personal gains instead of making a change in the world of others.
Therefore bring willing to share credit also means being selfless when it comes being a true social entrepreneur.
4) Strong ethical impetus
Lastly, like what was mentioned in the previous point; it is important that social entrepreneurs are true to their intention on addressing social concerns and having the desire to restore justice in the society instead of misusing the name of an social entrepreneur to bring fame and fortune to oneself.
So.. to end off, here's a video on a brief introduction to 6 remarkable social entrepreneurs whose visionary ideas and persistence have transformed tens of millions of lives.
Watch & be inspired! (:
So.. to end off, here's a video on a brief introduction to 6 remarkable social entrepreneurs whose visionary ideas and persistence have transformed tens of millions of lives.
Watch & be inspired! (:
References
Teju, R (2010). Unreasonable blog: exploring how to create unreasonable impact.
Retrieved October 27, 2012, from http://unreasonableinstitute.org/blog/6-characteristics-of-successful-social-entrepreneurs/
Hello KG!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing that video, truly it is inspiring and motivating to see all these Ashoka fellows and their innovative ideas. I think what struck me the most is how humble they are, even after achieving so much success. In addition, they are able to share, I guess that's the true spirit of social enterprise. Not to be selfish, but to share. All those entrepreneurs could have patent their ideas and methods, but yet they are willing to be an example for people to copy. How often we get wrapped up in our silly minds that when we find something great, we should hide it, so that we can be great forever.
I guess that's kinda what you said in pt. 3! Which I really truly agree.
More than studying all the methods and systems of running a successful social enterprise, our hearts have to be at the right place. We should always remind ourselves the purpose of what we are doing.
Its so easy to forget basic things like the points you have mentioned above. But thankfully, with this community of people who have gone before us, we can remind ourselves continually of what we want to be :)