How To Be a HR Rule Breaker (for the risk-shy practitioner)

Let’s have a bit of fun.Do you have what it takes to be an original HR Rule Breaker?Want to find out?Take 5 seconds to study this photo.Empty your mind of all distractions. Inhale. Exhale. Go! 5,4,3,2,1.STOP! What was your immediate reaction?A) Cautious and a little angsty, with chilly drops of perspiration creeping down your hairline?

OR

B) Curious to see what lies on the other side and excited to storm the barriers? Did statement A or B best fit your reaction to the photo?So which reaction do you believe would be THE reaction of an original HR Rule Breaker?And the answer is..., drum roll please. Both A&B!The popular idea of a rule breaker, HR or otherwise, is that of an out-there extrovert. A mercurial, Guy Fawkes-type revolutionary hell bent on blowing up ‘The Establishment’. That is but one type and one style.Adam Grant, debunks this long-held belief that these are the traits of a successful ‘rule breaker’ (entrepreneur etc.) in his book ‘Originals: How Non-Conformists Move the World’.

“To become original, you have to try something new, which means accepting some measure of risk. But the most successful originals are not the daredevils who leap before they look. They are the ones who reluctantly tiptoe to the edge of a cliff, calculate the rate of decent, triple-check their parachutes, and set up a safety net at the bottom just in case.”

OUTSIDE-IN HRYes, in the HR discipline, there are individuals and groups who are metaphorically storming the battlements of conventional thinking upheld by ‘The Establishment’. They are riffing and mixing concepts from other disciplines and creating new ways of delivering HR value and difference.INSIDE-OUT HRThe fact is that there are also savvy professionals quietly rewriting the rules and stealthily transforming the HR status quo inside their organisations. They are epitome of cool-under-fire understated guerilla rebellion, working on change from the inside.Both styles are equally valid and valuable in the battle for the future value and relevance of the HR discipline.We can’t hide from the winds of change whistling through the rickety relics of the HR discipline, rattling old structures and shaking timeworn foundations.The current situation calls for multiple paths to making a meaningful difference.A savvy HR practitioner can artfully adapt and apply these different rule breaker style depending on a specific situation.We spoke about the perils of following established rules with sheep-like compliance before.Bubble wrapping yourself in the protective cocoon of conventional thinking will not keep you safe. See why here.Make no mistake, times have changed."This is the first time in the history of the world where the risky thing is to do the traditional thing. That’s more risky than “taking risks” and becoming something outside the dominant paradigm. It’s more risky now do the same old s**t than it is to get into an adventure and write your own script." - Chase Jarvis as interviewed by Srini Rao in the Unmistakable Creative podcast. Treat yourself to 73:55 minutes and listen to this interview full of brainpoke bombs!For HR to be the vehicle for transformation, some critical preparation work must be done first.  The battle for the future value and relevance of HR starts in the mind of the practitioners and leaders.

How To Be a HR Rule Breaker And Make a Positive Impact

HR specialists and business leaders, you have to prep your mind think differently before taking action.Being an HR Rule Breaker, irrespective which style you choose, is not for the faint of heart. If this path is not for you. That's OK.But if you fancy inspiring your rebel mind-set, read on.It may sound cheesy, but we all know that inspirational quotes and brainpokes have an almost supernatural power to lift even the most deflated spirits.Why else do we use them in our training and talks or ‘like’ and share them with our social media connections?How many inspirational quotes do you have saved in your ‘break-glass-in-emergency’ file when your motivation needs that boost?Here are some of my favourite inspiring rule breaker quotes from my file.

9 MORE Brainpokes That Will Inspire Your HR Rebel Mind-set

1. Get ready to prep your mind. “Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds, cannot change anything.” George Bernard Shaw.2. Rules ARE meant to be broken: “Learn the rules so you can break them like an artist.” Pablo Picasso.3. But don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. “You have got to know the rules to break them […] That’s what I’m here for - to demolish the rules but to keep the tradition.” Alexander McQueen, Designer, maverick.4. The Value of Uncomfortable Questions: Positive, transformative rule breaking starts with acknowledging that niggling feeling that somethings is not right or that things can be different and better.Next, it is time for some honest reflection. Ask yourself some uncomfortable questions. Try these from non-conformist Chris Guillebeau to get you started.

• By whose authority are these rules upheld?
• What’s more important—the spirit or letter of these rules?
• Has anyone ever found or been granted an exception to these rules?
• Could these rules be bent, modified, overlooked, or otherwise changed?
• Will someone be penalized for excelling under these rules?
• What are the consequences for breaking the rules?
• What are the people who made these rules really afraid of?

Then, get ready to ask these questions of the people who make the rules.5. Discomfort is mandatory: To get real transformation you must give up a few things. “The only things you’ll need to give up are assumptions, expectations, and the comfort zone that holds you back from greatness.” Chris Guillebeau.6. The Truth About Comfort Zones: “A comfort zone is a beautiful place, but nothing ever grows there.” When you get comfortable your muscles get weak through lack of use. With prolonged stasis, those muscles will wither away. It is the same with your mind. Feed and exercise your mind daily.7. The Ying and Yang of Learning and Unlearning: Each day proactively unlearn something of no value AND learn something new and of value. Decide that even when things go wrong or are doomed to failure, you will learn.

“I never lose. I either win or learn.” Nelson Mandela.

8. Keep it real: “Not everything that is faced can be changed. But nothing can be changed until it is faced.” James Baldwin.

9. Courage is needed: "Courage is the most important of all the virtues, because without courage you can't practice any other virtue consistently. You can practice any virtue erratically, but nothing consistently without courage.” Maya Angelou.What are your favourite quotes that inspire you make a difference, even when the going gets tough?Finally, what kind of HR legacy you want to leave?Tell me in the comments.If you enjoyed this post, please hit the share buttons of your choosing so other readers enjoy it too.  For more brainpokes like this, be sure to check out The HR Rabbit Hole archive posts. Readers, The HR Rabbit Hole blog will be on a short pause after this week’s post.I am super excited to be part of a team leading the launch of Hub Dot in Antigua / Caribbean.With over 17,000 women in 15 global cities, Hub Dot is revolutionising the way women network socially and in the corporate space. Hub Dot uses the concept of storytelling as a way to make authentic connections and start a conversation that begins ‘What is your story?"The Antigua launch event is on 16^th June 2016. This will be an opening like no other!  If you happen to be in Antigua on 16^th June, why not pop by?I will continue to share bite-sized updates, tips and cool ideas via Aquarius’ Facebook page and Twitter until The HR Rabbit Hole blog returns with a fresh post on 20^th June 2016.

Until we meet again down the HR Rabbit Hole…