10 Ways to Become a Contrarian Leader

Image source

Nice leaders finish last, if nice means agreeable. If all you do is agree, go home. You aren’t contributing.

“There is a condition afflicting organizations that often goes undiagnosed because it is perceived as benign. In truth, it is corrosive.

I call it the ‘the disease of niceness.’” John Baldoni in, “The Leaders Pocket Guide.”

Nice leaders:

1. Wrongly believe “getting along” is the goal. “Can’t we all get along?” is great if you love mediocrity.
2. Can’t tolerate conflict. If you can’t tolerate conflict, you can’t lead. Successful leaders thrive in tense situations.
3. Need to be liked.

Substantive contribution demands disagreement.

Contrarian leaders:

1. Believe getting it done is the goal.
2. Think tension and conflict are tools not distractions.
3. Instigate conflict rather hiding from it. They stir the pot.

The scale:

On the scale of “nice to contrarian,” most of you fall on the nice side. You’ll get along just fine in many organizations. But, you’ll never be an exceptional leader if all you do is agree.

Exceptional leaders cross the line
from agreeable to contrarian.

10 ways to become contrarian:

1. Keep smiling, for goodness sake.
2. Reject the idea that anger and contrarian are the same thing. Don’t let anger be your only motivation to address tough issues.
3. Ask tough questions and make challenging statements without threatening.
4. Embrace politeness, always. (Thanks for this one John Baldoni.)
5. Watch your body language. Maintain welcoming eye contact and open postures.
6. Convince everyone you support them. Agree, affirm, and support, a lot. Contrarian leaders finish last, if contrarian means constant disagreement.
7. Keep listening. Contrarian doesn’t mean “my way or the highway.”
8. Practice clarity and mutual accountability. Have others hold you accountable to the same degree you hold them. Contrarian isn’t about being aloof or superior.
9. Always show respect.
10. Maintain optimism. Contrary isn’t negative.

Note: I”m not encouraging bullying. Bullies aren’t leaders.

How can you move toward contrarian leadership, today?

The Word I Don’t Hear Much

“We have a crisis in leadership. Confidence in leaders continues to decline. At the same time, our current financial situation says we are in desperate need of leaders.”

“Would you trust your leaders to babysit your children?” John Baldoni.

Leadership begins with trust. Acting in the best interest of others builds trust. Self-interest, at the expense of others, destroys trust.

Leaders who think more about what they get than what they give can’t be trusted.

During my conversation with Baldoni, he said, “We need more sacrifice in leadership. Sacrifice is doing what’s right for others, first.” John Baldoni.

The power of sacrifice:

1. Sacrifice builds trust, commitment, and loyalty.
2. Great achievement always calls for sacrifice.
3. Sacrifice reveals the heart. Calling others to sacrifice without self-sacrifice degrades others.
4. Self-sacrifice enables leaders to call others to sacrifice.
5. Sacrifice is the path to connecting with something bigger than you.
6. Leaders willing to sacrifice take the long view.
7. Ethics and integrity have meaning in tension between self-service and others-service.

Calling leaders to sacrifice is calling them to love others more than they love themselves.

Many topics in leadership are challenging and awkward; sacrifice tops the list. I don’t hear much about sacrifice. It’s time to bring it back.

Check out John Baldoni’s new book: The Leader’s Pocket Guide: 101 Indispensable Tools, Tips and Techniques for any Situation.

What does leadership-sacrifice look like from your perspective?