How can you tell the difference between a “good” corporate rebel and a “bad” rebel?
This question has come up quite a bit during recent speeches and interviews. Here’s a chart to help clarify. The “good rebels” provide tremendous value to organizations — and are needed more than ever before as organizations look for ways to innovate and adapt to change. Check out my recent ebooks about research on corporate rebels and how to become a more effective rebel.
I would add one. Bad rebels tend to be loners. Good rebels find others who share their views.
The best rebels:
Break rules in order to change them.
Complain about the bad AND create the good.
Assert AND question.
See no significant difference between “Me” and “Mission”, knowing that all change begins in the mind of the individual, and therefore, “Me” is but the beginning of the “Mission”.
See that Anger and Passion both have their purposes, but are only two sides of the same coin.
Are pessimists about what IS, but Optimists about what COULD be.
Sap energy from their enemy, but generate energy for their allies.
Alienate the unworthy, but attract the worthy.
See problems around every corner, and also see that possibilities are born from every problem.
Vocalize problems, AND socialize opportunities.
Worry about that which could go wrong, thus enabling themselves to plan for contingencies, AND wonder about that which could go right, thus enabling themselves to recognize opportunities.
Point fingers where blame is due, AND pinpoint causes when causes are known.
Doubt that which must be doubted, AND believe that which must be believed.
Are social loners (because they dare to walk in a different direction than the others), AND are social (when others have the wisdom to walk toward THEIR direction.)
THAT is the truth about the best of rebels.
Doubt & believe are backwards.
“The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always certain of themselves, but wiser people so full of doubts.” — Bertrand Russell
“Men become civilized, not in proportion to their wilingness to believe, but in proportion to their resdiness to doubt.” — H. L. Mencken
“I respect faith, but doubt is what gets you an education.”. — Wilson Mizner
“Beliefs are what divides people. Doubt unites them.”. — Peter Ustinov
KDD: How interesting. I can see the value of flipping Doubt & Believe. Or maybe each word belongs in both columns. Lois
Hugh: I like your rebel views, especially about some of the paradoxes, like anger and passion. Also like your point about worrying in order to plan for contingencies, so necessary! In my experience and observations in large organizations, people who voice possibilities and solutions get heard and are more likely to get things changed, while those known for complaining and vocalizing problems get ignored.
Great little post, and I’d like to jump in the on the ‘doubt vs believe’ discussion. As I look through the list, I read “doubt” as cynical and “believe” as trusting—not necessarily in what/who one is rebelling against, but in the possibility. A good rebel is one who challenges the status-quo with a confidence that change can occur. A bad rebel isn’t convinced.
My two cents.