What sets apart the person who goes against the grain successfully?

In a recent blogpost, Executive Coach and Author, Suzi Pomerantz, discusses the importance of mindsets. She urges anyone who influences to “get a grip on their inner game” for maximum success as a leader. Our unconscious mindset largely determines how we show-up (the energy we bring to a situation) and how effective we are in our interactions with others.

As someone taking the road less traveled it is critical that you understand the impact of your mindset. You are not just following the crowd, you are forging the way. And this means you take risks, create vision, and enroll others along the way as you consciously create what you want from life. You’re a leader – big time!

I highly regard Suzi’s expertise so I asked her opinion on how a leader successfully “goes against the grain.”

Here’s what she has to say:

I think the hallmark to a successful leader is someone who knows when to follow convention and when to go against the grain or take the road less traveled. It is about choice. True leadership rests in the awareness of the leader and her ability to choose in the moment what is going to be the most effective response. Oftentimes due to political realms that must be carefully navigated, a successful leader will follow the expected norms, or at least manage the perceptions such that others believe the leader is within the bounds of established structures. Yet I do think that from a mindset perspective the real maverick leaders are looking for ways to break all the rules…they are just masterful at doing so under the radar. Much of leadership is about enrolling people to take action towards a compelling vision, and history is full of examples of powerful leadership where the impact was most potent when there were no established rules, precedents, or maps in place. Think, for example, of Kennedy saying we need to put a man on the moon. Or Jefferson and his compatriots declaring independence from England’s monarchy. Or how about Obama not choosing to preach from the pulpit about being a maverick like his opponents in this recent campaign, rather he demonstrated his ability to strategically choose when and how to go against the grain by reaching out to new voter populations and leveraging the internet technology to create the most powerful grassroots following in the history of our country. So, to answer your question, the successful leader strategically chooses when and how to buck the system in a way that aligns with a grander vision…one that is large enough to engage the hearts and minds of many and inspire committed action.

Suzi Pomerantz, MT., MCC
Executive Coach and Author

Are you consciously choosing to go against the grain?
How do your mindsets help or hinder your journey on the road less traveled?

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