Why It’s Good to Be Disruptive

In today’s workplace, we are often looking to maintain a calm, peaceful existence. There are not a lot of organizations out there who like to shake things up on a regular basis, and who then enjoy managing the chaos that can ensue. This hesitation to disturb the status quo is understandable, given that people generally want stable, consistent environments where they know what to expect.

“What if shaking things up (aka being disruptive) is sometimes exactly what is required?”

But what if that isn’t always the case? What if shaking things up (aka being disruptive) is sometimes exactly what is required?

As a part of hosting Disrupt HR, we have been examining the concept of “disruption” and what it really means in today’s workplace. Our conclusion? Disruption is ultimately about creating an interruption in our patterns. We disrupt when the status quo, the same old, and the tried and true are no longer working. We disrupt when we are looking for, craving even, something new and different.

It isn’t always easy to be the disruptive one in the room. It involves taking some risk, putting yourself out there, and seeing what happens. The status quo can sometimes be appealing – it can be comforting to always know what is expected and to be able to predict how your day is going to go –  but sometimes, you want to dive into the unknown and see what is possible!

So why is being disruptive a good thing? Here are 4 of the major benefits to being disruptive.

1. Brings on change. Change is not always a bad thing! As they say – out with the old, and in with the new. A change can re-energize a team, a department or an entire workplace, and with change often comes clarity and a fresh perspective.

2. Encourages innovation. When we interrupt our patterns, we have to create new ways to get things done. This interruption encourages people to open their minds, look at situations differently, and innovate for results.

3. Creates space. Disruption doesn’t happen in organizations where there is no room to try things out, to risk being wrong, or to even potentially fail. When being disruptive, there is no right answer, there is just the space to experiment, to try something and see what happens. This space can create the best new way of doing things that no one saw coming.

4. Gives permission. If your organization is tired of the tried and true, then being disruptive gives people permission to try new things, to dare to be different and to challenge the current thinking. This is both liberating and freeing and can propel people into powerful new ways of working.

As we head into our second year of hosting a sold-out Disrupt HR Victoria this October, we are excited to be seeing the same hunger and thirst for disruption this year from our speakers, our sponsors and our attendees. Thanks to all who have shown their enthusiastic support so far – we would especially like to thank our Sponsors for getting our board with our disruption!