The entrepreneurial Heffalump is a variegated sort of animal, which appears in different habitats and in different forms. It also appears to have undergone some evolutionary changes or mutations since the first reports of its existence were made public by Heffalump hunters in the past. So it is not surprising that there is disagreement about the nature of the beast” (Wilken, 1979)

Do entrepreneurs use the driving mode of behaviour?

Driving behaviour can be seen through those that enjoy innovating, challenging the status quo, taking control and making firm conditions, self starting, adapting to change, and focussing on results and success.

Innovating embodies most if not all of the words used above. Innovating is about bringing a new product or service to market. It is not about pure creativity or perceiving endless possibilities. It is about solving problems and making something happen.

Where James Dyson is different to other engineers and scientists is that he has a vision of what he wants to achieve. He then goes out and overcomes the challenges needed in order to make it a success. He does want to make a difference and he looks at the world in which we live and comes up with improvements, and then brings them to market. In the above video he is discussing the blade less fan.

In believing himself to be more powerful than his environment James Dyson believes that he can make things happen. He may see the world as a competitive place.

Do all entrepreneurs engage in the driving mode?

Yes!

Most successful entrepreneurs will have to engage in the driving mode at some point. They will have to be rational, they will have to bring a product or service to market, and they will have to solve problems in order to realise their vision.

Some entrepreneurs may start without engaging their driving mode. Almost certainly they will have to engage it in order to grow a company. They will have to invest, they will have to take calculated risks. The dragon’s from Dragon’s Den will be like this when they are growing businesses.

That said, the driving mode is no good on its own. How do you get people to work with you? How do you examine the small details and perfect a product? How do you get your company to run smoothly?

Driving mode is very similar to the fiery red (Insights), Intuitive thinker (Myers Briggs), and dominance (Disc), modes of behaviour.