Rethinking the “E”: Entrepreneurial Spirit or Execution?

Everywhere you look in this industry, the same confident phrase appears. We believe in an entrepreneurial spirit. Companies proudly say they want people who think big, own their roles, and bring fresh ideas to the table. It always sounds like the start of an inspiring leadership book, maybe even one that comes with a leather bound journal and a cup of motivation on the side.

So teams step up. People start imagining new ways to elevate performance, streamline workflows, and drive better outcomes. They get energized, because this is the part of the job that sparks creativity and momentum. When you tell someone to think differently, they will. When you tell them to dream bigger, they try. That is the beauty of working with people who genuinely want to make things better.

Then something shifts. Suddenly, the direction snaps back to the familiar. Follow the process. Stick to the pattern. Do it the way we have always done it. It is like being invited to paint a mural and then being handed a coloring book instead.

It is a moment many employees recognize. The message says bold thinking, but the culture says stay inside the lines. You can almost feel the tension between inspiration and expectation. And that is when the real truth becomes clear. The company is the entrepreneur. Employees are invited to contribute, but only within the boundaries of a master plan. What is actually desired is not entrepreneurial freedom, but entrepreneurial execution. The E that really drives decisions is the one tied to consistency, predictability, and control.

This disconnect is more than just frustrating. It might be part of the reason we have a talent issue in our industry. People want to feel trusted. They want room to contribute, not just comply. When a culture says be creative but rewards staying quiet, people eventually look elsewhere for places where their ideas can breathe.

This is why so many professionals describe themselves not as yes employees, but as why employees. They want to understand the reasoning behind decisions so they can support them with clarity and conviction. They ask questions because they care. They probe because they want to strengthen the work. Asking questions is not rebellion. It is engagement. If a company says it values entrepreneurial thinking, questions should feel like collaboration, not a threat.

Here is where the conversation deepens. Organizations often champion entrepreneurial spirit internally while enforcing strict limits on what people can do outside of work. Non competes, conflict of interest clauses, and long lists of restricted activities create a mixed message that is hard to ignore. Employees are told to act like entrepreneurs at work but are restricted from acting like entrepreneurs anywhere else. It raises a fair question. How much entrepreneurial spirit is actually encouraged, and how much is simply marketed?

Which leads to the core insight. Maybe the E in entrepreneurial spirit is not the E most companies mean. Maybe the real E is Execution. Reliable, consistent, high quality execution. The kind that delivers results, protects the brand, and keeps operations clean and predictable. And again, there is nothing wrong with that if the message matches the reality. When words say one thing and rewards point to another, people sense the disconnect instantly.

So what is the path forward? It starts with a mindset shift.

For companies, the opportunity is huge. Create space for real innovation. Encourage ideas before shutting them down. Let people explore possibilities without fear of stepping out of line. Celebrate curiosity. Build environments where stretching and experimenting are supported instead of stifled. Even small freedoms can unlock big improvements. And in a time when talent is harder than ever to keep, authentic trust is a powerful competitive advantage.

For employees, the shift can be just as powerful. Look for the pockets where creativity is allowed to breathe. Innovation does not always require unlimited freedom. Sometimes it comes from a fresh question asked at the right moment or a smarter approach tucked inside the existing structure. Sometimes it grows in the corners where patience, curiosity, and persistence create a spark that was not there before. That shift turns frustration into progress and helps people reclaim a sense of ownership, even within constraints.

Property management is transforming quickly. Expectations are rising, technology is advancing, and resident needs are evolving. The companies that rise will be the ones that align values with actions and empower their teams to bring their best thinking to the table. Whether the E stands for Entrepreneurial Spirit or Execution, the real difference comes from clarity, trust, and support.

That alignment is what moves the industry forward and inspires people to stay, grow, and bring their best every day.