How to Challenge the Status Quo (Pt.2)

In this two-part series, Tim and Junior discuss practical steps for effectively challenging the status quo. Innovation requires some dissent and deviation from the norm, but challenging the status quo can be difficult since it often feels personal. Today they cover the final 5 tips including bringing credibility, knowing your boss, framing dissent as exploration, and using data to support your case.

Key Points:

• Be transparent about potential unintended consequences (6:32) - When proposing a new course of action, be candid about the risks and unintended consequences. This builds credibility and shows you are managing risk prudently.

• Bring credibility (17:57) - Develop competence and a track record of good decision making to increase your believability when challenging the status quo. Understanding your expertise and track record informs how you position arguments.

• Know your boss (28:16) - Understand your boss's personality, biases, preferences and goals. You can be right in your comments but wrong in your approach. Consider timing and use tact.

• Frame dissent as exploration (33:30) - Use curiosity rather than contradiction. This lowers social friction while maintaining intellectual friction for effective challenging.

• Use data (39:42) - Look for quantitative then qualitative data to support your case. But also be transparent and call the data what it is, even if you only have a hunch. Make asks proportionate to the evidence.

Links:
Challenging the Status Quo Pt.1 
How to Challenge Your Organization’s Status Quo — Productively