In the chapter, the authors analyze the mindset of the entrepreneur. In doing so, they base their analysis on various widely recognized psychological theories. By reading the chapter, the reader will be aware of the general characteristics of the entrepreneurial personality. The chapter comprises the theoretical background of the model developed in the book.
TopRoles, Values And Mission
In the present chapter we focus on the general characteristics needed for the development of an entrepreneurial personality. The present chapter is an introduction to the core of our learning model. In particular we present the main characteristics of a responsible entrepreneur mindset.
A first step towards the development of the individuals is to make them understand their desires and aspirations allowing to make clear what are the results that can lead to a gratification, a greater satisfaction and therefore a complete development of the personality.
In the training literature a three-variable system of roles, values and personal mission is used as an interpretative model that allows the subject to have greater awareness of their processes and actions. This model was developed within the managerial training and coaching programs of Franklin Covey Institute, one of the most important institutions in the personal/managerial training field.
Figure 1.
Schematization of the model developed by Franklin Covey Institute
Roles
Understanding the roles system in which the individual is inserted appears essential for the effective development of relationships and responsibilities towards oneself and others. The person’s natural instinct is to relate to other human beings in order to share values and interests. Belonging to something obviously gives a sense of safety and the natural tendency of person to socialize and unite is the demonstration of the impossibility to live in solitude, an issue also intuited by Aristotle in defining person as a social animal.
Perceiving and understanding one's own social role is therefore fundamental for a correct development, otherwise the individual will incur situations of incoherence that can alienate him.
One of the traditional methods to try to understand one's own role is to write a list for each category of belonging, both family, work and social, trying to develop an auto-reflection on one's own identity and extrapolating the implications that derive from them. Once this task has been carried out it is necessary to set a list of priorities both for each category and on a general level. The next task is to understand how effectively the role is interpreted through a personal rating scale from one to five in order to understand which areas need to work more