Date: 1/7/2019

Title: LEADERSHIP & NON-CONFORMISTS – Part 3

By Jennifer Erickson

Many people believe that they aren’t creative, that they can’t be a non-conformist. They think only certain people can generate ideas that are labeled as original simply because of the sheer number generated or the oddness of them. Most of us say we might be good followers, the good worker bee…but please don’t count on us for an original idea to get the process off the ground.

In his book Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World, Adam Grant dispels many myths of creativity. He takes an interesting approach…that of seeking out the broadest perspective and waiting patiently for the correct time to proceed. It’s not necessarily the person who knows the most about something that could lead us to a conclusion. It might just be the person who allows himself/herself to think beyond hastily created walls.

Grant would say that in order to be our best selves, the biggest innovator, the leader who can truly influence our team or neighborhood or family or place of worship or country….we need to go against the grain.

There’s that phrase of influence, again. Last month we talked about leadership and influence. A good leader influences others. Sometimes, leaders can influence others to think like him/her. Radical ideas aren’t created this way. A leader needs to be comfortable with making a mess, in order to come out with a better product, team member, idea….whatever. So, influence your team to be creative; to be non-conformists; to produce something better than what is sitting there now.

To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.