Think of your workplace like a chessboard: Everybody has a role to play, and you can’t win a game with only knights. It’s healthy to have a mix of personality types. And one of those types is a team member who raises her hand, asks tough questions, and sparks productive debate.
Some people are naturally good at creating friction — they’re agitators, instigators, disruptors, and downright bothersome. Although they may not always be welcomed in many organizational cultures, they play a vital role when competitive landscapes shift. They’re the people who ask tomorrow’s questions, which tend to not to have answers.
Iconoclasts tend to make great experience and product officers. Because such leaders must work at the intersection of business, experience, and technology (BXT), it is imperative for them to look past the nuts and bolts of the current business, see the bigger picture and articulate a vision. Given the reins of authority, iconoclasts can work across silos to connect the best ideas and opportunities from all parts of the organization.
Author: David Clarke
Source: strategy+business
Subjects: Human Resources, Management, Organizational Behavior
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