Unmask the Dark Side of Disruption and Unleash Positive Disruptors
Patrick Leddin, PhD
Practice Leader | Professional Disruptive Speaker | Led the Vanderbilt Disruption Project | WSJ Bestselling Author | Podcast Host
I once worked with someone—let's call him "Sid."
Sid wore disruption like a medal, basking in the thrill of derailing meetings, demeaning others, and tearing down systems, regardless of their efficiency. I recall a poignant moment when he admitted to me that his pleasure stemmed not from a desire to improve things but from the sheer joy of destruction.
Sid's disruptive antics sprang from his overblown ego, insatiable hunger for power, and a pressing need to dominate others, to keep them "in their place." His objective was to be difficult for the sake of being difficult.
Pause for a moment and remember when you crossed paths with someone who chose to be obstinate purely for the sake of it. To aid your reflections, consider these scenarios:
- A colleague who vehemently rejects a novel idea simply due to a personal bias against the proposer.
- The neighborhood grouch who invariably complains at every community gathering but never offers constructive solutions or positive input.
- An individual who disrespects others yet storms out at the slightest perception of disrespect aimed at them.
Like Sid, these people are disruptors, but they spread negative vibes. They consciously decide to disturb situations motivated by ill intent. They become a constant source of problems, leaving chaos in their wake for others to tidy up, and their actions result in people distancing themselves, seeking refuge, or repressing their potential.
You and your organization need disruptors in your midst. You may need to be more disruptive yourself.
However, ensuring that being a change agent is coupled with a consistent self-reflection of your intentions is critical. When you disrupt, question your motive. Are you provoking change for the better or merely to incite others and create issues?
Transforming into a positive disruptor requires seeing beyond the moment. It involves acting for others' benefit, even in complicated situations. It calls for welcoming differing viewpoints, exercising restraint in speech to listen genuinely, and thinking deeply about what matters most. Accepting discomfort and preserving curiosity are crucial to nurturing constructive disruption.
Furthermore, being a positive disruptor requires aligning your actions with your values and purpose and those of your organization. It's about contemplating whether your disruptive actions align with your core values and long-term objectives. This alignment is critical to ensure that your intentions are positive and your disruptive actions bring about meaningful outcomes. It creates a clear vision that guides your actions towards long-term beneficial impacts, not just immediate, short-lived disruptions.
Let's be positive disruptors as we journey through our personal and professional lives.
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Unleash Your Team's Potential: Inspire Positive Disruption
Are you searching for a speaker who can spark new perspectives and convert your audience into positive disruptors?
Look no further than my keynote topic: "Step Up and Disrupt."
Rooted in my extensive research and leadership role in a trailblazing project at Vanderbilt University—focused on maximizing the strength and potential of positive disruptors—I deliver a dynamic and rousing speech. I'm spearheading a pioneering research initiative that explores the depths of positive disruption, laying the groundwork for my forthcoming book. This book pledges to reveal strategies and practices that allow individuals and organizations to prosper as positive disruptors.
Leveraging this rich knowledge base and expertise, I've been fortunate to work with hundreds of organizations worldwide, refining my comprehension of cultivating a positive disruption culture.
The video below gives you an insider look at my speaking work.
I'd be honored to work with you and your team. Learn more and secure a spot on my schedule by contacting my speaking managers, Michele Lucia and Canesha Appleton . Or visit https://www.adlspeakers.com/#/patrick-leddin/
Make it a great day!
Patrick
Talent Development Specialist - Trainer, Speaker, Coach
1 年This is such a great article. You are so precise in accurately describing business situations and the people in them. I'm always impressed. <3
Chief Operating Officer at Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney
1 年Unfortunately, I spent many years working with "Sid." I know all too well how difficult it can be to deal with someone who's only goal is to cause disruption and disharmony. I once told Sid that it bothers me that he would get greater satisfaction finding fault and causing disruption than to see the organization succeed. We want people who cause disruption by thinking differently, not simply accepting that the way we do things is the only they can be done but encouraging us to consider other processes and paths, and challenging us to be better throughout our organization. Thanks for sharing your thoughts and your video.
Music Director at Cranford Achievement Program (CAP)
1 年This is probably one of my favorite posts of yours. I consider myself a positive disrupter in my work place and it has taken years to develop the appropriate nuance in how to disrupt effectively and appropriately. As a younger professional, I observed things in my career that didn’t sit right with me for a number of reasons and I felt as though it wasn’t my place to say anything or stand up for students or colleagues. Over time I have learned to question those within the system and advocate for both myself, those around me with a softer voice, and to set a different tone moving forward so that positive change may occur. I was raised with the motto “if you don’t stand up for something, you’ll fall for anything” and I keep that close to me. Shake up the boat and start makin those waves! Others will join in on the surf session!
Information Technology Manager at WITF, Inc.
1 年I've worked with quote a few Sids
Founder at Ople | Transforming AEC Executives into Empathetic Leaders I Polymath Leader
1 年Fantastic insights, Patrick Leddin, Ph.D.! Just last week, a reflective discussion with a colleague about courage and authentic dialogue found me drawing from your keynote speech, 'Step Up and Disrupt'. The positive disruption you've championed has inspired not only that conversation but also my latest article, 'The Courage to Speak: Stirring the Pot with Authentic Dialogue', which goes live tomorrow on LinkedIn. It's a tribute to the power of brave and authentic communication within the corporate realm. Your work, especially the '5-Week Leadership Challenge', receives a well-deserved mention. I'm eager to see the strategies and practices your forthcoming book will unveil to help us prosper as positive disruptors. Thanks for being a trailblazer and sparking the fire of positive disruption in so many of us!