Communication Entrepreneurship

To describe someone as an entrepreneur suggests a person who is flexible, not tied to tradition. He or she is  creative and able to make the best of their environment and circumstance to address issues or reach particular goals. In many ways, such a person is innovative and free-spirited in their approach to challenges, yet conventional and disciplined enough to work within specific goals and parameters that they themselves set. In my time, I have seen this word applied to individuals, business and universities and to such fields as business and public policy. But until now, I have never heard or seen it be applied to communication. This suprises me because I feel it applies to communication as well as any other field or profession.

Being a communication entrepreneur begins with being able to think creatively and, as a result, carry out strategies that go beyond the status quo to the point of achieving alternative futures. They have a good sense of purpose and direction. This entails being able to devise appropriate messages in a variety of genres and media aimed at making lasting connections and reaching well-defined, measurable goals. Such a person is as much of a leader as they are team player. Thus, they demonstrate the qualities associated with leadership, yet are able to work well a vareity of others. Their role is multi-layered as they go about establshing an array of networks. 

A communication entreprenuer displays all the qualities first articulated in 1984 by Brian Spitzberg and William Cupach when they outlined what makes for communication competence. A competent communicator, they said, is a good manager. He or she is able to make the necessary adjustments in most any situation in order to drive through their particular points. They properly engage other publics, establish a viable connection with them, and still effectively impart their messages onto those newly-established partners. Obviously, this is an important skill for all communicators. It certainly applies to communication entrepreneurs.