Did you start the day hoping that before it was over you’d be disrupted?

You won’t find many people who want to be disrupted. Disruption is unsettling at best and unpleasant at worst. It forces change and requires additional effort.

But what about leadership? Is it good to be a disruptive leader?

I believe it is both good and necessary. The best leaders are always disruptive and it serves the organization well when it is done correctly.

Why?

Disruptive leaders unsettle the complacent, challenge mediocrity, drive innovation and keep people and companies growing. They challenge the status quo, both in themselves and those they lead.

That’s because they know that if they don’t do the disrupting, someone or something else will, like disruptive competitors, regulators, technologies or start ups.

As a leader, what should you disrupt?

In individuals on your team consider disrupting:

• Ill-informed opinions and beliefs.
• Comfort leading to complacency.
• Disrespect for others.
• Outdated work habits.
• An unwillingness to change.
• Resistance to learning.
• Inefficiency.
• Incorrect focus.
• Entitlement.

• The products, services and experience you provide.
• Masterful operations.
  Your value proposition.
• Underperforming vendors.
• Any and all unethical practices.
• Outdated technology.
  Wasteful spending.
• Unacceptable service levels.
• Ridiculous rules, policies and procedures.