Opinion piece / Entrepreneurial spirit is important, but diversity of ideas and personalities is more important

Tuomas Nousiainen wrote about the demotivating effect of entrepreneurially minded workers in the workplace (KL 15.4.). The piece highlights entrepreneurial spirit very well as a resource that the organisation does not make use of.

I recognise the challenge – earlier in my career I too was told not to do things that I felt would benefit the company.

At the same time, I feel that rather than glorifying entrepreneurial spirit, the real strength of a workplace lies in the diversity of employees’ thoughts and personalities.

Leadership often has a need for control

Partly, entrepreneurial spirit is a buzzword of the times, which is bandied about in, for example, leadership and recruitment however people see fit. In my view, entrepreneurial spirit is not seen only in the number of hours worked, but more in smart, high-quality and efficient work.

Instead of the attitude of “I’m just here at work”, the aim should be to take responsibility, see the bigger picture and want to advance the company as a whole rather than just one’s own patch.

”A successful company needs many kinds of skills and personalities.” – Juha Huttunen, CEO, Rakettitiede

For many professionals and knowledge workers, work is an important part of identity. If work is restricted too tightly, it stifles motivation.

Leadership often has a need for control, and giving that up takes many people out of their comfort zone. There must be room in company culture for experimentation and risk-taking – and, with them, also for failure.

The communication channels and involvement of people mentioned by Nousiainen as examples are good ways, but they are not enough unless leadership has a genuine desire to build a culture based on trust and openness. This is a prerequisite for a workplace that supports and encourages different personalities to flourish.

Making use of natural strengths

Entrepreneurial-minded people are needed, and they are an undeniable asset. However, entrepreneurial spirit should not be something admirable or aspirational that a workplace should actively encourage.

A successful company needs many kinds of skills and personalities, and building a diverse workplace is therefore key.

The companies that succeed best are those that make use of different people’s natural strengths in the right roles.

In leadership, it is important to show direction, avoid micromanagement and let smart and motivated people find the solutions to achieve the goals.

Juha Huttunen

Chief Executive Officer, Rakettitiede

This opinion piece was published in Kauppalehti in June 2024.