We often use the phrase “acting like a child” as an insult for adults who may be seemingly irresponsible or immature. However, in business we need to take risks and be able to adapt quickly to change, so as a business owner, it can be helpful to have childlike faith and embrace a childlike state of being.

Let’s look at a few childlike qualities that all leaders can benefit from emulating.

First, children have a positive attitude and haven’t learned to be apprehensive of new situations. They have a natural curiosity and desire to learn. This is a critical factor in their growth and development and should not stop in adulthood. 

Children are also flexible; they can accept change because they lack deeply ingrained habit patterns. Adults can often be set in their ways — a major obstacle to success in the business world. 

Children are self-confident because they have not yet acquired the fear of failure. They try new things and quickly learn what works and what doesn’t. 

Finally, children are resilient. When they are learning to walk, they don’t just stop trying when they fall down — they get back up over and over again.

By the time we reach adulthood, we may have lost some of these qualities. We become programmed by our environment, and we have developed certain attitudes and automatic reactions to situations. We forget the importance of being curious, flexible, and self-confident. We sometimes think we know it all or we may question our abilities. We focus on fear, and it keeps us stagnant but our inner-child is still there inside of us all.

We need to channel our innate tendencies toward growth and develop them. We need to reflect on our attitudes and change the ones that are counterproductive to our development.

How do we do this? How does a business leader lean into his or her childlike attributes? We need to engage in productive activities that challenge us to step outside the limits we have set for ourselves and move closer to our full potential. Personal leadership is a commitment to a course of action that leads to personal fulfillment — the fulfillment that comes from making an indelible mark, a contribution to the world.

The good news is that personal leadership is freedom, like that of a child. On your journey, you adopt a sense of adventure, a sense of wonder and become free of everything that holds you back, including your own self. You accept responsibility for your own actions, and you realize that your success is not based on comparisons between yourself and others. Rather, your progress is gauged by comparing who you are to who you want to be!

What childlike quality is going to augment your entrepreneurial spirit, generate new ideas, and lay a foundation for your long-term success?

Learn more about the hard work of tapping in to your inner child and how some characteristics of a child can help you step out of your comfort zone and break the status quo in the fast-paced world of business at Achievable.com.