Everyone has heard of the term entrepreneur. So let me introduce you to its arch rival janiteur.
Now there is no such word as a janiteur. There is a word janitor but I think we should start taking account of the janiteurs in our world and particularly in our education,public and corporate organisations. Actually why single them out-janiteurs are everywhere.
A janiteur is the kind of person who says “ye cannae dae that.”
You will have met them in your life. Sometimes they take the form of parents. Sometimes friends ,colleagues and bosses. They are shape shifters but they are fundamentally negative people who when pressed can be massively innovative in stopping innovation.
The key features of janiteurs is that they are obsessed with processes. They are very reluctant to change and because of this they resist change.

At a recent,very engaging event organised by Scotland’s Towns on the Portas review of the High Street someone mentioned that the predominant culture in many organisations is janitorial. The focus being not on the vision but on the procedures. The tick boxes. The things you have to do or the world will collapse.
Now do not get me wrong, janitors form a vital part of our society. They do lots of things nobody else will, they keep the wheels oiled-or they should. What they do not do is inspire and take people over the barricades. That is the role of entrepreneurs.
So start to ask this question”is your organisation janitorial or entrepreneurial ?” .

To help you along I have adapted my 5 Entrepreneurial Elements into a diagnostic. try and answer the questions and see where it takes you.

1.Do you have an opportunity to discuss things with colleagues in an informal way and is it encouraged?

2.If you have an idea are you able to run with it or does it get passed up the line to a head of department or taken to a committee where it dies a slow death ?

3.Do you have a chance to test yourself ? Are you doing what you are great at or firefighting ?

4.When someone comes up with a new way of doing things does it get a chance to be put to the test without expectation? In other words “have a go and lets see what happens “.

5.Is your world of work going through sudden unexpected change ? Has your organisation had a shock and if so is the management response to do more of the same with fewer resources or to respond and say “it’s time for something different ?

I look forward to responses!