AUTHOR=Van Gelderen Marco 

TITLE=Using a comfort zone model and daily life situations to develop entrepreneurial competencies and an entrepreneurial mindset

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136707

DOI=10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1136707

ISSN=1664-1078

ABSTRACT=This paper presents a novel experiential learning format which aims to develop participants’ entrepreneurial competencies and entrepreneurial mindset. Furthermore, this study investigates factors that promote individuals’ competency development and mindset formation when using this learning format. In the format, students practice enterprising behavior in daily life, rather than by starting a venture. Teams of participants receive a set of eight to ten challenges. Each challenge asks participants to create value for other people. The challenges are not revealed until the exercise starts, and they are worked on for one- or two-days full time. Each challenge allows participants to practice the competencies of generating ideas for opportunities, taking action, perseverance, networking and network utilization, teamwork, and convincing others. Collectively, this contributes to developing an enterprising mindset. The format is based on a comfort zone model and aims to promote significant learning in a short time. After a week, each participant submits a reflection on their actions during the experiential part. In this article, the experiences of 198 participating students in 6 courses in 5 countries are analyzed to bring out the factors that contribute to students staying in versus leaving their comfort zone, and the types of learning which result. Learning occurs when participants leave their comfort zone and have experiences that surprise them, leading to novel realizations. Key to learning is the element of surprise. 
Secondly, the reflection reports generated by participants are analyzed to reveal factors that promote individuals’ mindset formation and competency development. By means of a qualitative content analysis, this article analyses the experiences of 202 participating students in 6 courses in 5 countries, reported in individual reflections, to bring out the factors that contribute to students staying in versus leaving their comfort zone, and the types of learning which result. Learning occurs when participants leave their comfort zone and have experiences that surprise them, leading to novel realizations. Key to learning is the element of surprise.