Personality profiles and innovation success: insights from micro-entrepreneurial ventures

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of specific personality facets on the innovation capabilities of self-employed micro-entrepreneurs. This research aims to establish which traits—specifically aesthetics, ideas, and assertiveness—most strongly impact innovation capabilities, thereby offering new understanding and practical implications for fostering innovation within the micro-entrepreneurial sector. Design/methodology/approach This study utilises a representative sample of 524 Polish self-employed micro-entrepreneurs to investigate the relationship between personality facets, as defined by the Five-Factor Model, and innovation capabilities. By focusing on traits such as aesthetics, ideas, and assertiveness, the research identifies personality dimensions that most significantly impact innovation. Given micro-entrepreneurs' role in modern economies and their potential for knowledge-driven innovation, this study offers valuable insights into how personality traits influence their innovation capacities, providing a foundation for targeted interventions in entrepreneurial development. Findings The results demonstrate that aesthetics and ideas, facets associated with openness, and assertiveness, a facet of extraversion, have positive correlations with innovation capabilities. In contrast, other facets, including conscientiousness, agreeableness, and neuroticism, show no significant impact on innovation. These findings indicate that developing openness to aesthetics and ideas and enhancing assertiveness may support innovative behaviours in micro-entrepreneurial contexts. Originality/value This study contributes novel insights by analysing personality at the facet level within the context of micro-entrepreneurial innovation, an area with limited research. The findings offer practical implications, underscoring the role of specific personality traits in driving innovation and supporting the design of tailored interventions to enhance innovation capabilities within small business environments.