It takes a certain kind of mindset for entrepreneurs to emerge from challenges stronger and more successful business leaders.

Here are 3 characteristics or mindsets that help fuel leadership development and successful entrepreneurship.

Resilient Attitude When Facing Failure

The ability to persevere through and learn from failures is often cited as an essential trait for people who start and successfully grow a business.

“The entrepreneurial path isn’t paved with constant wins — far from it,” says Jon Michail, founder and CEO of Image Group International, a corporate and personal-brand image advisory and coaching organization. 

“There will be tough days, weeks or even months. But what separates successful entrepreneurs is their response to adversity,” he writes in an Entrepreneur article.

It takes an individual with a resolute attitude to ultimately achieve success as an entrepreneur, says Abdul Loul, founder and president of Mobility Intelligence Inc.

“When entrepreneurs become comfortable with failure and eagerly press on to their next venture or endeavor, they can significantly enhance their prospects of success, having learned from past mistakes and armed with invaluable experience,” he explains in a Forbes Business Council post.

A University of Cambridge study cited by Michail found that entrepreneurs who maintain a positive yet grounded outlook in challenging times are more likely to persevere and achieve long-term success.

“It’s not the setbacks that define you,” says Michail, “it’s how you react to them. Every stumble is a stepping stone, and every failure is a lesson.”

Adaptability to Change

Data and experienced entrepreneurs point to adaptability as another critical mindset among successful business owners and leaders.

“Markets evolve, technologies advance and customer expectations shift. Leaders who thrive embrace change rather than resist it,” says Bill Oldham, president of AsceliaHealth in a Forbes Council post.

Change is a catalyst for innovation, not a constraint, he adds.

“Entrepreneurs who foster a culture of curiosity and experimentation build organizations that can anticipate disruption rather than react to it. Adaptability becomes a competitive advantage and a hallmark of strong leadership,” Oldham writes.

A Curious Mindset for Entrepreneurial Growth

Successful entrepreneurs also share a curious mindset, which fuels a desire for continuous learning, and leads to innovative thinking and improved decision-making, according to shared experiences and research.

“An entrepreneur's ability to remain curious allows them to continuously seek new opportunities,” says a Harvard Business School Online blog.

“Rather than settling for what they think they know, entrepreneurs ask challenging questions and explore different avenues,” the post says.

Having a curious mindset is an asset for entrepreneurs, explains a business.com article by senior writer Julie Thompson.

“Staying curious and embracing new trends and processes can keep your business on the cutting edge and help you stand out from the competition,” she writes.

This type of curiosity shows up in different ways, from learning about every facet of your business to keeping up with new technologies. “They know that technology leads to new opportunities and ways of conducting business,” adds Thompson.

When business leaders are curious, they ask powerful questions and challenge the status quo in hope of finding new opportunities and enlightenment, says a Fast Company Executive Board post.

“That quest for knowledge enhances their ability to cultivate conversations without judgment or bias,” writes Richard McWhorter, managing partner of SRM Private Wealth. “They view these conversations as objective ways to seek information and cultivate innovation.”

He calls curiosity a superpower, one that you can practice and learn over time by asking questions that help you dig deeper into problems before reaching conclusions or making decisions.

“Leadership is often equated with authority, decisiveness, and confidence, but curiosity is another important quality that will give you an edge in business and unlock new levels of success,” writes McWhorter.