The economic outlook is uncertain. Times are changing. Your organisation needs new and innovative ideas to capitalise on new markets and strategic opportunities. But you don't want to incur undue risk. So what's the answer?

You need intraprenuers; employees who are good at managing uncertainty and risk but do not actively seek it out. So what are they and how do you attract and retain them?

Much has been written about entreprenuers as the new business heros. But most of this is stereotypical. More constructive research from Harvard Business School takes the conversation from creativity to one of curiosity, and from risk-taking to one of uncertainty.

So how do I know if I need an entreprenuer? If you're looking for talent that is capable of thinking outside the box, turning a stagnant company around, or taking initiative in new markets then an entreprenuer is for you.

"All very well", you might say, "but I don't want a maverick employee making high risk decisions and seeking to undermine the vision and authority of senior management".

Enter intraprenuers. A concept coined by Gifford Pinchot to describe and identify innovative employees who want to work within an existing business to make a difference and drive revenue generation, while at the same time respectful of defined boundaries and not risk-seeking.

Intraprenuers have been so successful that Koch (2014) has described them as the "secret weapon" of the business world. So how can you harness their benefits? 

Intraprenuers love:

• Employers who give them the platform to experiment 
• Jobs where they can make a difference and enhance their expertise
• A culture that encourages fresh thinking
• A direct line to decision makers so they can see the ROI
• Connections and collaboration
• Sharing success and lessons learnt

Are you looking to grow while embracing uncertainty?

Do you need people to drive new products, projects or initiatives?

Do you hire intrapreneurs already?

Email me your thoughts.