Self-confidence and fear of failure among university students and their relationship with entrepreneurial orientation: Evidence from Colombia

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to identify the impact of features of personality such as self-confidence and fear of failure on the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of university students enrolled on entrepreneurial education courses. Design/methodology/approach: Variables related to risk-taking, innovativeness, proactiveness, as well as those related to self-confidence and fear of failure, are taken into account. Using linear regression, the authors investigate how self-confidence and fear of failure affect the EO of university students. Findings: As pointed out by results, both self-confidence and fear of failure are determinants of the EO of university students. Self-confidence has a positive and consistent effect on the three dimensions of EO, whereas fear of failure has a negative effect on EO. Research limitations/implications: It is not possible to assure that, in the medium and long term, individuals more prone to taking risks, innovating and proactivity will in fact become entrepreneurs. Also, even though it does not affect the relevance of the findings, it must be highlighted that this study has been carried out with a specific sample of students and results may vary in different contexts. Originality/value: This study offers a new insight relating individual’s self-perceptions and their impact on EO. Equally important, the findings of this paper offer relevant information for the design of academic programs aimed at strengthening students’ personal aspects to promote self-confidence and tolerance to fear of failure as predictors of the EO in this collective. © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited