Rebel with a Cause

As social animals we want to fit in, but recent research has revealed the rewards of standing out in the workplace. People who speak their minds are rated as more productive and valued by both peers and managers. Bucking the trend and being productively disruptive helps people feel confident, creative and more engaged.

Try the ‘Why Not?’ Challenge

Pick one routine process at work that irritates you and your team-mates. Get together and suggest some bold alternatives. What’s annoying about the process and what might be a smarter alternative? Do something radically different, or scrap it altogether?  Rip it up and challenge the status quo!

Why it works

Most of us have a natural tendency to stick with established processes and routines, even if they make no sense (especially when they’re endorsed by authority figures). We also fear being thought of as disruptive or different when, in reality, speaking our mind is likely to enhance our status at work. Question the unquestionable and you’ll be surprised by the positive impact you have!

o delve deeper into how breaking the rules can be advantageous in work and life, dive into Decoding Greatness: How the Best in the World Reverse Engineer Success. Rod Friedman explores how successful individuals analyse and emulate the best practices in their fields to achieve excellence.