Being a Maverick
Take care not to be blinded by your own brilliance. Beware the all too common career trajectory of Maverick to Rebel to Scapegoat to Martyr. There is an alternative to not your way, or the highway. Cultivate grit – and Get Gritty.
Managing a Maverick
Base the relationship on mutual respect, not authority. Monitor performance, provide feedback, and pick your battles carefully. Champion your Maverick, and never compromise your leadership integrity.
Maverick Upside
- powerful source of intrapreneurship in corporate life
- relentless reinvention and renewal, not replication
- competitive drive for ambitious results
- infectious enthusiasm that inspires others
- visionary foresight
“The whole world loves a maverick and the whole world wants the maverick to achieve something nobler than simple rebellion!” Kevin Patterson
Maverick Downside
- breaks the rules, rejecting systems and routines
- creates friction and conflict, and is often isolated from peers
- abrasive; poor at managing own reputation
- strong-willed and independent; not a team player
- persists in behaviour that does not deliver desired outcomes