Last week we talked about the maverick mindset, that spark that can jolt you out of autopilot and helps you question the defaults and help you reset.
And like all good things, sparky, this can have a catch: disruption, if done badly, does not inspire. It irritates.
Safe to say, we have all seen it. The leader who swoops in with their “big new idea” while their team is still processing the last three “big new ideas.” Guilty on this one your honour.
The executive who questions every single process until people stop listening altogether.
The founder who declares a “pivot” at 4 p.m. on Friday and then vanishes, leaving others to clean up the mess.
That is NOT maverick. That is chaos.
A true maverick mindset is less “rip everything up” and more “shake things up… wisely.”
So, how do you do it without leaving your team exhausted, confused, or plotting your mysterious disappearance from the next Zoom call?
Here’s my take on it.
Challenge the status quo without creating unnecessary tension
If you are going to question something, how you do it matters. A lot.
Instead of charging in with:
“This process makes no sense. Why are we still doing it this way?”
Try leading with curiosity:
“What would happen if we approached this differently?”
See the difference? One triggers defensiveness. The other opens a door.
A few ways to keep it constructive:
- Frame challenges as opportunities, not criticisms. Make it about improvement, not about proving someone wrong. Focus on the problem, not the identity.
- Pick your battles. Not every process needs to be reinvented. Focus on the 20% that, if changed, unlocks 80% of the value.
- Test before you tear down. Pilot your “what if” in one corner of the business before you roll it across the whole organisation.
Mavericks do not fight every fight (that is a different type of mindset). They choose the right one, at the right time, and they bring others along for the ride.
Micro-habits that keep the mindset alive (especially when the pressure is on)
Big disruptions make headlines. Micro-disruptions change cultures.
The easiest way to apply the maverick mindset consistently is to weave it into your daily habits:
- Ask one unconventional question per week. In your next meeting, try: “What’s the opposite approach we haven’t considered?”
- Rotate perspectives. Once a month, invite someone from outside the team (or even the company) to weigh in on a challenge. Outsiders see what insiders have normalised.
- Run a quarterly “stop doing” review. Ask: “If we had to cut 20% of what we do today, what would we cut first?” You’ll be surprised how quickly this surfaces inefficiencies. And it is a great question to find out what is blocking your team and your organisation from moving.
And here is why this works: when we anchor these micro-habits to routines we already have, such as meetings, one-on-ones, or planning sessions, they feel natural, not like “extra work.”
Spotting (and escaping) safe mode
Even the boldest leaders drift back to autopilot. We have all been there, done that. The good news is that it is easy to spot if you are paying attention.
“Safe mode” sounds like this:
- “We’ve always done it this way.”
- “Let’s schedule another meeting to discuss.”
- “Let’s wait until next quarter.”
Safe mode feels like this:
- Your team has stopped bringing you fresh ideas.
- You are solving the same problems the same way.
- You leave meetings drained instead of energised.
So, how do you break out of it?
- Ask the reset question: “If I had to design this from scratch today, would I do it this way?”
- Shake the format: Change how you run a meeting, swap roles, or move the conversation somewhere unexpected (yes, even a walking meeting counts).
- Invite accountability: Ask your team to call you out if they notice you slipping into default mode. Mavericks are not afraid to be held to their own standard. They walk the talk.
The balance that makes it work
Here is my whole point in one line: the maverick mindset is not about rebellion. It is about curiosity.
When you experiment from a place of “I wonder what would happen if…” you make it safe for others to experiment too. That is how you create momentum without collateral damage.
So, this week, I invite you to have a think:
👉 Where can you introduce one small, intentional disruption, not to prove a point, not to create chaos, but to spark a fresh perspective?
Because the best mavericks aren’t reckless. They are deliberate. They know that the right disruption, at the right time, is what keeps the edge sharp and the momentum alive.
And as always, if you invest in yourself, the rewards will be unfathomable.
Until next time.
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