The election is fast approaching, and people are once again — for the nth time — hoping, that aside from the existing social issues we have, government problems will be solved.
But will the coming administration (national, provincial, city-wide) really be able to solve problems embedded in our government?
A nine-chapter book written by a Harvard Business School professor explains how embracing the entrepreneurial spirit can do the magic. Mitchell Weiss in his book titled We the Possibility: Harnessing Public Entrepreneurship to Solve Our Most Urgent Problems, expounds how government can wrestle with problems by looking at them as opportunities, by trying new ideas, scaling them up to improve public life.
This is not to say, of course, that all the behaviors of entrepreneurs must now be imported into government. What he’s saying is there is a need to adapt the skills and practices of entrepreneurship so the public sector can survive and prosper.
According to Weiss, if we want things to work out the way they’re supposed to in government, “we have to cut off the failing projects and invest in those that are working. So it’s essential for us to try new things in quick and efficient ways and move on from them, eventually, if the original idea does not prove fruitful.”
I think he’s right. Given people’s loss of faith in governments and public officials, our country needs a different approach. And with the advances in technology, there are definitely opportunities for everyone to try to make use of them in suitable and useful ways.
I’m wondering what made the author say that? What is in the entrepreneur mindset (EM) that can help government solve problems? These are my guesses:
EM challenges tradition. The most successful social entrepreneurs are progressive (sometimes eccentric) thinkers, not restricted by the limitations of the systems in place. Instead, they challenge those systems with novel concepts and practices. This knack to challenge universally accepted values or theories of entrepreneurs paves the way to an absolutely innovative way of thinking.
EM combines creativity with market intelligence. Entrepreneurial thinking unsurprisingly exemplifies creativity, an infinite imagination as to what is conceivable.
However, the most fruitful business undertakings balance creative solutions with all-inclusive market intelligence. Awareness of the issue and its causes enable entrepreneurs to merge divergent ideas from dissimilar perspectives, and then craft a newfangled, distinguished or a wholly exceptional approach.
EM embraces risk and failure. Most of the time, notions that push intense change are fundamentally dangerous schemes and they present the possibility of failure. Entrepreneurial thinking recognizes that ambiguity and takes it as an indispensable driver of advancement and evolution.
EM “thinks big.” Huge problems demand huge solutions. Entrepreneurs are driven by a “go big, go home” outlook in everything they do. Incremental change is not adequate; they demand colossal change towards a daring end game.
EM practices humility. Modesty drives even the most audacious leaders to challenge their own recognized propensities and know their potential for continual upgrading. Flourishing entrepreneurs endeavor for precision, excellence, and flawlessness. They are obsessed about learning and know that they can always do better.
If only our legislators, administrators, and all those who lead us will adopt this Entrepreneurial Mindset, we can be certain that things will work out right, and that the most elusive “golden age” of governance will actually be possible.
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Author’s email: [email protected]
