Disobedient Talk

Many lessons will undoubtedly be learned from Australia’s recent natural disasters. Incredible flooding, followed by one of the largest cyclones in recent memory have caused havoc across Australia, particularly in Queensland. The chaos of natural disasters places a premium on good communication. In this situation,…

This Intelligent Disobedience blog entry was contributed by Marjolein Towler. Thanks MT! Have you ever been faced with a decision to do something that is in your best interest, and is not directly hurting anyone, but is not entirely above board either? Ever been in…

In this blog and in our consulting and training services, we often promote approaches that stray from the norm. As a result, we do get involved in our share of healthy debates and an occasional argument now and then. These are fine; as an argument…

Common advice for a growth minded professional is to ensure they work with someone who can fill their role, so their management team is more comfortable with moving the leader to roles of greater responsibility. Sound advice, of course. The ambitious leader who engages in…

We are all creatures of habit. In our personal and professional lives, we strive for things that are repeatable and predictable. Even the most ambitious change agent needs tools, people and processes they understand in order to move their businesses forward. When we move away…

In our daily lives we are presented with many opportunities to multi-task. We expect this of ourselves, as we try to produce as much as we can – both professionally and personally – in the average day. But how effective are we – really –…

In our Intelligent Disobedience workshops we regularly discuss the risks associated with engaging in acts of intelligent disobedience. Why would a person take those risks? The answers our workshop delegates provide are varied and often personal in nature. Examples include addressing a long standing issue…

Recently, we had a potential client ask us a very pointed question…”What will I see in my organization on day one after my staff sits through one of your Intelligent Disobedience workshops?” It is a great question…yet I hope our answer was even better, and…

In our Intelligent Disobedience workshops we encounter many people who are looking for new and improved techniques for influencing others, communicating critical needs and dealing with emotionally charged issues. For most, the techniques we present do not disappoint. Others, however, will come to our workshops…

In his latest book, Linchpin, author Seth Godin discusses making a significant mark in your workplace by doing things differently. Godin says “We need you to stand up and be remarkable. Be human. Contribute. Interact. Take the risk that you might make someone upset with…

Some of the best conversations we have had with influential stakeholders involved suggested actions that were ultimately rejected. In most cases, these were proposed acts of “intelligent disobedience.” Why were they still great conversations? Because they helped us as individuals stand out. As an employee,…

This story came from a friend and colleague in Brisbane, Australia. I’d love to hear from someone in the rail industry to substantiate this story – it is a good anecdote for thinking twice about following ”the rules.” Good news: It was a normal day…