Is your work truly working? At first glance, your business may seem fine—performance indicators are steady, clients are reasonably satisfied, and projects are progressing without major hiccups. But with burnout-driven trends like “resenteeism” and “quiet quitting” gaining attention, it’s clear that employees are often overwhelmed and disengaged.
Traditional leaders recognize that their teams’ calendars are packed with meetings and inboxes are overflowing with requests. But what are they doing to address this? According to Mercer’s 2024 Global Talent Trends Report, eight in 10 employees are at risk of burnout, citing exhaustion and crushing workloads as the top culprits. Meanwhile, a recent global Gallup survey reveals that employee engagement has stalled, and overall well-being has declined.
Bring on the Rule-Breakers
To truly change work, we need leaders who will eliminate unnecessary tasks and help employees focus on the meaningful instead of the mundane. Outspoken, rule-breaking leaders might just be the key to driving real, positive change in the workplace.
These leaders challenge the status quo and are the first to ask: “Why does this rule exist? Is it still useful?” By rethinking outdated processes, they save time and energy, freeing up space for deep work and breakthrough ideas that can propel a company ahead of its competitors. In 2023, companies with highly engaged employees saw 51% less turnover, a 23% increase in profitability, a 68% improvement in employee well-being, and a 22% rise in participation.
It’s time to promote leaders who think differently—those who aren’t afraid to break the rules. These are the ones who know when to rock the boat and call out inefficiencies, and their thoughtful critiques reflect deep engagement with their work. They can help infuse life and critical thinking back into workflows and create a culture where speaking up is valued.
Embracing the Mavericks
So, how can you bring more mavericks into the mix?
- Prioritize innovative thinkers in hiring and promotions. HBO is a company that embraces agility and dynamism by promoting people who challenge the status quo. After reading my book Kill the Company, they incorporated questions from my “50 Questions for Hiring Innovators” tool into their interview process. This helps identify candidates who excel at pushing boundaries, fostering critical thinking company-wide.
- Adopt curiosity as a company value. Breaking the rules excites teams. When employees see that disruptive rule-breakers are heard, they’ll be more inclined to share their own innovative ideas. Dr. Natalie Nixon, CEO of Figure 8 Thinking & author of The Creativity Leap reminds us that “Questions are inputs into a system-and the more diverse the inputs the more innovative output. That system could be as banal as dinner prep (How might we switch up our lasagna recipe?) or as significant as developing a new marketing strategy (What if we engaged former competitors into our marketing campaign?) If you keep asking the same questions, then you continue to get the same results. Encouraging curiosity is learned behavior and can advance innovative outcomes in your organization.”
- Make “killing stupid rules” part of your culture. Teach leaders to consistently identify and eliminate outdated practices. One technique is Kill A Stupid Rule. Ask employees: “If you could kill any rule that holds you back at work, what would it be?” The number of suggestions you’ll receive will surprise you. Eliminating these barriers gives teams more time for meaningful work and reinforces the value of challenging outdated practices.
No one will stay engaged in a job that’s too bureaucratic and rigid for them to have a say in their work. Innovation requires defying convention, and promoting people who think differently ensures a pipeline of fresh ideas. The best leaders aren’t just the ones who keep the ship steady—they’re the ones who know when to rock the boat.