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NewsIrish entrepreneurs share personality traits
Irish entrepreneurs share personality traits
08.06.2010
A study by PI Worldwide in association with Ernst & Young and Trinity College Dublin has revealed that successful Irish entrepreneurs share personality traits, with 70pc of the entrepreneurs surveyed having a profile that is similar to, or a close variation of the ‘typical’ profile.
The evidence of the study, entitled The Personality Traits of Ireland’s Most Successful Entrepreneurs suggests that an ideal character fit for entrepreneurship may indeed exist.
A person with the ‘typical’ profile is naturally proactive, assertive, has a sense of urgency for achieving their goals and will communicate directly and to the point.
They will openly challenge the world, be independent in putting forth their own ideas, which are often innovative and, if implemented, cause change.
They will resourcefully work through or around anything blocking completion of what they want to accomplish. Impatient for results, they will put pressure on themselves and others for rapid implementation and are far less productive when doing routine work.
Driven to fix technical problems
Task-focused, they often notice and are driven to fix technical problems, cutting through any personal/emotional issues. In areas of interest, they have an aptitude to spot trends in data or figure out how complex systems work.
These typical successful entrepreneurs are relatively independent in thinking and action; often comfortable taking action without input from others and have an assertive drive to accomplish their personal goals by working around or through roadblocks.
Finalists from 1998-2009 surveyed
The study surveyed the finalists of the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year contest from 1998-2009, using PI Worldwide’s Predictive Index methodology to access their personality characteristics.
While two thirds of the surveyed entrepreneurs naturally had an entrepreneurial type profile, 82pc adapt their behaviours to be more entrepreneurial.
The study’s author is Paul O’Leary PhD, an entrepreneur and business executive with 25 years’ industry experience. He has studied and researched entrepreneurial psychology to doctorate level, and continues to conduct extensive research in the area. He is an associate with PI Europe and an adjunct member of faculty at TCD.
Photo: Pictured from right to left, The President of Ireland, Mary McAleese pictured with Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner Terry Clune, founder, Taxback.com and Enda Kelly, partner-in-charge, Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Programme
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