There is a time and a place when going a little rogue is absolutely necessary. I’ve seen it more than a handful of times. Girl sits behind desk, follows all the rules….creates work… whether exceptional or not…goes unnoticed and gets her little credit! Girl takes some chances and endures some risk, takes said organization to the next level. I gotta say, I love a renegade. I am not talking an all out rule-breaker. There is a sweet spot that lies between following the rules and understanding when they don’t apply. If every person followed exactly the protocol of their predecessor, then there would never be any innovation. Innovation lies in the hands of the people who understand and calculate risk and make good decisions decisioned based on it. I believe that renegades have a particularly important place in the nonprofit organization. With boards, executive committees, founders, EDs, staff, donors, and the like you could literally weigh the input of all parties and come back to precisely where you started. If standing up for your ideas and understanding how to make them a reality= being a renegade. Then, I want to be that. Are you a renegade or do you have renegade potential? Here are 10 renegade traits, I think I’ve identified.
1.) Personable. People like you (at least at work)
2.) Willingness to Speak up for Good Ideas
3.) Willingness to Make Mistakes and Admit It
4.) Ability to Provide Rationale to Back Your Stance
5.) Instinctual. Often Going and Sticking with Your Very First Reaction
6.) Confident & Likes Trying New Things
7.) Elicits Feedback from Trusted Sources, Not Everyone in the Office
7.) Ability to Debate and or Standup for Ideas Even When it Means Disagreeing with Your Boss
8.) Stays Away from the Water Cooler at All Costs
9.) Is an Expert in Some Aspect of their Job
10.) Reads, Stays on Trend, Stays Connected
This list has a striking resemblance to leadership qualities. Coincidence? Nah, not really.
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