Running a business is more than gaining profit; it’s also about giving back and effecting change. According to a Deloitte survey, 65 percent of companies are now focusing on inclusive growth as a business priority. This part is where social entrepreneurship comes in.
Social entrepreneurs are those who start businesses to solve social problems. They utilize their entrepreneurial skills to develop innovative solutions addressing pressing societal issues like poverty, healthcare, and education.
However, becoming a social entrepreneur takes more than having a good heart. Here are some essential skills you must have to be successful in this field:
Passion and determination
Of course, no business can succeed without passion and determination. But for social entrepreneurs, these qualities are essential since they’re pursuing a mission more significant than themselves. They need to be driven by their cause to persevere through the challenges they’ll face.
Without this level of commitment, it would be easy to give up when the going gets tough. So, working on your passion and determination is an excellent place to start if you consider becoming a social entrepreneur. But how do you do that?
One way is to get involved in volunteer work or activism related to your chosen cause. This approach will sharpen your skills and give you first-hand experience of the social problem you want to address. It’s a great way to gain insights into the root of the problem and potential solutions.
When you understand the issue better, you know where to focus your efforts and what needs to be done. From there, it’s a matter of taking action towards your goals.
Creativity and innovation
As a social entrepreneur, you need to be creative in two ways: first, to come up with an innovative solution to a social problem, and second, to find creative ways to implement your solution.
For example, if you want to address the issue of food insecurity, you can come up with a community garden project. But to make it more innovative, you can use hydroponics or aquaponics instead of traditional gardening methods. This way, you’re not only addressing the issue head-on, but you’re also doing it uniquely.
Moreover, you need to be creative in marketing and promoting your cause. Traditional advertising might not be enough to get the word out there. So, it would help if you found other channels where you can reach your target audience. Doing so will increase the chances of your cause getting noticed and supported.
Communication skills
Effective communication, both in written and verbal form, is also important. This skill is essential in building relationships with your stakeholders, such as investors, partners, employees, and beneficiaries.
You need to be able to articulate your vision and mission clearly. In doing so, people will understand what you’re trying to achieve and be more likely to support you. Furthermore, good communication skills will help you in networking and building partnerships.
You need to be able to connect with people and build relationships that are beneficial for both parties. These connections will be crucial in achieving your goals and scaling your impact. That’s why working on your communication skills is essential to being a successful social entrepreneur. This way, you can more easily convince people to invest in your cause.
Facilitation
Your primary goal as a social entrepreneur is to develop solutions to social problems. But more often than not, you can’t do it alone. You need the help of other people, such as your employees, beneficiaries, and partners.
This part is where facilitation comes in. As a social entrepreneur, you must facilitate collaboration and coordination among all the parties involved. You need to be the one who brings them together and ensures that everyone is working towards the same goal.
It might seem daunting, but it’s essential if you want to be successful. After all, you can’t achieve your goals if the people you’re working with are not on the same page. So, if you’re serious about becoming a social entrepreneur, start honing your facilitation skills.
You can gain knowledge in this area by joining an essential facilitation training. This program will give you the tools and skills you need to be an effective facilitator. When you have the right skills, you can more easily bring people together and achieve your goals.
The above are just some essential skills you need to be a successful social entrepreneur. If you have these skills, you’re well on making a difference in the world. So, what are you waiting for? Start honing your skills and make a difference today.
