THE TWELVE PILLARS OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Tenacity: A Pillar of Entrepreneurship Performance
The Entrepreneurship Journey is Not for Everyone
One of the main things that separates the job of an entrepreneur from a traditional job is the level of perseverance and resilience required to be successful.
When building a company, there is no job security or safety net. Entrepreneurs take a colossal leap into a dark terrain filled with uncertainty, chaos, and agony. They experience moments of rejection and self-doubt, feelings of depression and anxiety, and guilt for neglecting other priorities.
In this post, I’ll explain why Tenacity is a vital performance pillar for entrepreneurs. As mentioned in our first installment of the Twelve Pillars of Entrepreneurship blog series, we will delve into high-performance in each of the pillars that form the foundation of performance in startups. We have discussed Vision, Strategy, Resourcefulness, Execution, Innovation, Decision-Making, Collaboration, Direction, Influence, Autonomy, and Intensity.
And now: the Tenacity Pillar.
Tenacity as an Entrepreneurship Performance Pillar
When attempting to do what has never been done before, mistakes and failures are inevitable. Entrepreneurs must persevere through the dynamic environment and pick themselves back up after failed prototypes and losing deals. In addition, entrepreneurs must be ok delaying gratification because building a company is a long-term endeavor, and it may take years before you start seeing results. It can be difficult to keep going without immediate results or rewards. Frequent setbacks require entrepreneurs to push through challenges and be resilient without getting burned out.
To put it bluntly, to be a successful entrepreneur, you must act tenaciously.
What does it mean to be high-performance in Tenacity? Before we jump forward, I’d like to make an important distinction. When discussing performance, people often confuse behavior and outcomes, but they are two different things. Below is a graphic that explains the difference between a task (the work that needs to be completed), performance (a collection of behaviors), and the outcome (the end output resulting from the behaviors).
What does high-performance in Tenacity look like?
Entrepreneurs must move through many adverse situations and challenges. Therefore, entrepreneurs skilled in weathering tough situations and coping with immense stress are more likely to be successful. The Tenacity Performance Pillar covers a collection of human behaviors related to weathering and coping with inevitable problems, crises, and failures.
Here are some examples of Tenacity behaviors that are common among successful entrepreneurs:
Behaviors:
- Handle unexpected problems, complications, and failures
- Understand and regulate positive and negative emotions across situations
- Remain calm under stress and during emergencies
- Maintain an optimistic attitude
- Bounce back from rejections and overcome obstacles
Leveraging Teams for High-Performance
The beauty of building a startup with a team is the built-in support system. Simply providing emotional support for one another will enhance your ability to weather difficult situations. For us human beings, it is easier to move through challenges when we have social support. If you’re a founder, ensuring your team is emotionally supportive of one another is an easy way to improve performance; it can be implemented immediately, and it’s free. Start by building psychological safety.
You can also leverage your team to build resilience for your startup. If your team is small, you are likely each doing different things. Dividing tasks across the team is a great way to be more efficient. However, it does leave the company with vulnerabilities. If only one member knows how to access your customer data and that one member is sick or quits, there will be a breach in your operations. One way to avoid that scenario is to ensure your team members are cross-trained and willing to act as backup.
Conclusion
We all wish there were a quick and easy path to being a successful entrepreneur, but that is just not the reality. It’s a journey that takes years. Just like you cannot show up to college and graduate after taking two classes, no matter how good your grades are, the process of entrepreneurship takes time, dedication, and tenacity. If you are starting a company, mentally prepare yourself for a strenuous and laborious trek.
Share some challenges you have experienced in your entrepreneurship journey in the comment section below.
Check out our next blog to discover how to improve your Tenacity Performance.
Have Questions or Need Advice?At Blackhawke, we have several I-O psychologists with expertise in entrepreneurship performance. Feel free to schedule a 15-minute consultation; we’d be happy to provide some advice or answer questions, no strings attached!
About Blackhawke Behavior Science
Want to learn more about building a strong entrepreneurial team and healthy organizational culture? Visit Blackhawke’s Medium publication, From I-O to IPO, or blackhawke.io and get social with us on Linkedin, Instagram, or Twitter!
