Breaking the rules is not for the faint hearted, but it is what is required. Every one of us has the potential to be more rebellious in their approach, so be bold, be brave, and go out and break some rules. You’ll be surprised at what new opportunities open up, says Jackie Fast
We are undergoing radical change and, so far, that change has been towards a more positive outcome. From Black Lives Matter to #MeToo and climate change walkouts – the world it seems is ready to take on some of these longstanding challenges head on. And yet, we have been here before. The punk and hippie movement personified the force for good we are all now accustomed to facing on a day-to-day basis, and yet, many would argue that true change did not materialize. Which begs the question, ‘What makes this time any different?’
The answer is rule breaking – on a scale never seen before. From business, to politics, to local communities, more people are rousing their inner rebel, and winning.
Rule breaking is often discussed in a negative context, but when the rules being broken are for the benefit of the many we need to shift our mindset and see rule breaking to achieve better outcomes.
Let us consider rules in the first place. Many workplace rules were built from the foundations of the industrial revolution when humans were chained to machines with a focus on tangible output. The skills to manage and work the machines in question were only obtainable through experience; therefore, the key to success was to climb the ladder through hard work and time commitment. The focus for managers at the time was to ensure that those at the bottom felt like they were part of a team, that their long hours spent would eventually prove fruitful. This work scenario has held true for over two centuries – the lessons passed down from generation to generation. Almost all leadership books you read are written with this context in mind – the importance of managing people.
However, the world is vastly different now. People are no longer chained to machines or desks to produce. Their ability to learn new skills is not restricted to those they learn on the job or at school. The internet has revolutionised and democratized our access. Instead, we can learn just about anything from the comfort of our laptops. We can make anything without having to step outside our front door. Our inspiration is no longer restricted to those we know, instead we can be inspired by people we have never met living a thousand miles away.
We have shifted away from managing people to working collaboratively with people.
The potential of this shift is significant. Those that recognise it and see endless potential are reaping the rewards.
It first began in antiquated sectors where longstanding conglomerates monopolised the industry with old values and even older leadership tactics. In beauty, we saw young Kylie Jenner take her $250,000 in modelling money to launch a billion-dollar empire in less than four years that rivaled L’Oreal. Rihanna’s Fenty soon followed and now there is an influx of beauty products that are created with everyone in mind (not just middle-aged white women). In the drinks industry, two young Scottish friends James Watt and Martin Dickie used outlandish PR stunts including hiring a dwarf to petition the two-thirds pint glass to launch a craft beer revolution – a direct response to the faceless beer giants that reigned.
But this trend has continued surpassing the idea these businesses are just disruptors – proving rule breaking as a shift in the way people operate.
But tapping into your inner rebel can be challenging and it takes real bravery to take the leap into the unknown. Fortunately there are just four simple rules you need to break in order to rouse your inner rebel.
1Stop following the money and instead start following your passion
Following your passion is the most important rule in the future of work. The financial crisis and the latest pandemic have proven that following the money doesn’t always pay off – so you might as well start off doing the thing you love doing, and the money will inevitably follow.
In order to start following your passion, you must first identify what it is you are passionate about. This starts with looking inward. What are you good at? What do you love to do? What excites you? What do you care about most?
Answering these simple questions can evolve the direction you take in the future, mostly because it is rare that anyone has asked before. In school, we are always asked what we want to be, but never what we care about most. This has created a disconnect between what we do for a living and what we want to do for a living. But those two things no longer need to be contrasting. The advance of digital tools has provided us the opportunity to now make money from the things we love – so start taking advantage.
2Stand for something
Customers no longer want to have a transactional relationship with a company simply based on buying products or services. They want a relationship that is based on shared values; therefore, it is important that you are clear about what it is you stand for.
Leaders and businesses who are not afraid to upset potential market share with their voice are the ones that are proving victorious. Take Nike’s stance with Colin Kaepernick for their recent campaign, “Stand for something, even if it means sacrificing everything”. Nike doubled down on Kaepernick when they could have retreated. This one act saw their share price skyrocket and it has remained at an all-time high ever since.
3Be authentic
Everyone is sick of influencer ads, filters and the ‘fake it till you make it’ wannabes. The concept of truth is now valued above all. Those leaders and businesses who are not afraid to share their true journey are the ones that gain the most impactful following. With the world now smaller than ever, having a network that supports you can propel you farther than by doing it alone. Being authentic is completely core to that opportunity.
4Be the expert
Everyone has access to the same information, but it is up to you to use your access wisely. Those that genuinely want to make it to the top need to work hard at learning as much as they can in their field to stay ahead. Unsurprisingly this circles back to passion – if you are not passionate about what it is you are doing, you will never be interested enough in the subject matter to become an expert. But being an expert is table stakes. With the half-life of skills growing ever shorter as innovations become quicker, you must work hard to consolidate and engage within your network. There is no room for complacency in the future of work.
Every one of us has the potential to be more rebellious in their approach and those that are able to do so successfully are ahead of the curve in the future of work. So be bold, be brave, and go out and break some rules. You’ll be surprised at what new opportunities open up.
Jackie Fast is an award-winning entrepreneur and author of new book, RULE BREAKER: Rebellious Leadership for the Future of Work, published by Kogan Page.
