8 Keys to be a Rebel Leader

Rebel Talent by Francesca Gino is all about why it pays to break the rules at work and in life. Overall it is a breezy read and I especially liked the part of what it takes to be a rebel leader. Here are the eight keys to be a rebel leader with my take on each.
Seek out the new
If you want to be a leader who is a trail blazer obviously you need to seek the new. You must question the status quo and let go of all assumptions. Mark Parker said "Be a sponge. Curiosity is life. Assumption is death. Look around."
Encourage constructive dissent
If you are always seeking consensus you won’t be making progress. The team needs to be encouraged to speak up. This is also called psychological safety. Always be welcoming different points of view.
Open Conversations don’t close them
Learn to speak the way you would converse with a close confidant. Here the example of Pixar is provided. They have a concept called plussing. This basically means you improve ideas without judgement. So, you never put the ideas down you just plus it with something better.
Reveal yourself and reflect
As a leader you should be totally transparent with your strengths and weakness as well. Authenticity is a key victory trait of all leaders who have earned the trust of their team. Here the example of Doug Conant is provided who revealed himself fully and this helped in establishing himself as a strong leader.
Learn everything and then forget everything
All rebel leaders learn incessantly, and they have their antennas up all the time. With so many technological advancements happening daily what worked yesterday wouldn’t probably work today. So be ready to forget everything you have learned and be prepared to learn again.  
Find freedom in constraints
When the team is faced with constraints they should dedicate their mental energy to act more doggedly. There is nothing that is impossible to turn around and rebel leader’s welcome constraints to make even further progress towards their most cherished objectives.
Lead from trenches
This is all about being where the action is. Rebel leaders don’t hide behind their desks and they are out among their team. They act and lead from the front. They are where the action is and make things happen.  
Foster happy accidents
I take this to mean that rebel leaders encourage their team to take some chances and appreciate them even when they fail.
There you have it the 8 keys to be a rebel leader. Thanks for reading this post.
The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.

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