Disruption is everywhere. Layoffs, AI integration, consumer fear, ambiguity—leaders today are navigating an ever-changing landscape while managing daily challenges that demand quick thinking and resilience. But disruption, whether seen as good or bad, is often a matter of perspective. More importantly, when we fail to recognize our power to disrupt earlier in the process, it can escalate into extreme measures that feel out of our control.
So how do we harness disruption in a way that is intentional, constructive, and aligned with our values? Let’s explore the role of disruptive leadership and how to cultivate it effectively.
The Personal Journey of a Disruptor
I’ve always been a disruptor, but I didn’t always know how to lead effectively. As a kid, I constantly questioned things and pushed back against norms. While this might seem like a strength, my disruptive instincts were often seen as a flaw. For a long time, I struggled to channel them productively, and as a result, I learned to suppress my voice.
In my 20s, I entered meetings with one goal: Don’t be too much. Don’t rock the boat. I equated disruption with trouble rather than leadership. But I couldn't stop myself from speaking up & I often lacked the skills to bring people along with me.
With time, experience, and growth, I learned that disruption isn’t about destruction—it’s about transformation. Now, organizations seek my expertise to challenge the status quo, open space for innovation, and build something better. The difference? Leadership. When disruption is paired with strategic leadership, it becomes a force for progress.
That doesn’t mean it gets easier. No matter how much experience I gain, there’s always a moment of doubt—Did I do the right thing? Should I have spoken up differently? Disrupting systems and challenging norms will always come with uncertainty. But as leaders, we must balance this doubt with action, working across stakeholders and building coalitions to drive real change.
What Is Disruptive Leadership?
Disruptive leadership is about recognizing and replacing an ineffective status quo with a better alternative that serves stakeholders. It’s not about pushing change recklessly; it’s about intentionally fostering a culture of growth, experimentation, and continuous improvement.
A disruptive leader embraces change at both the personal and organizational level, inspiring teams to take calculated risks and innovate. It requires courage, resilience, and a commitment to challenging the norm while maintaining credibility and trust.
Key Elements of Disruptive Leadership
So what does disruptive leadership look like in action? Here are five essential elements:
Leading authentically from core values
Serving a calling with empathy and humility
Influencing without formal authority
Understanding complex, interdependent systemic issues
Developing an alternative vision and offering a clear path forward
Becoming a Disruptive Leader
If you want to embrace disruption in your leadership, start here:
1. Disrupt Yourself – Challenge Faulty Assumptions
Disruption is uncomfortable—not just for others, but for ourselves. To lead effectively, we must first challenge our own self-limiting beliefs and step into discomfort. If we can’t handle our own growth, how can we ask that of others?
2. Small Changes, Big Impact – Disrupt Your Team
Every small act—how you listen, how you give feedback, how you handle conflict—sets a tone for your team. When you model trust, curiosity, and courage, others follow suit. Lasting change often starts in the smallest moments, repeated over time.
3. Beyond Small Actions – Disrupt the System
Although small actions drive change, great leaders also know when to think big. Effective disruption requires knowing when to pull the right levers, balancing visionary thinking with focused execution.
Want to take your disruptive leadership to the next level? Bring me in to share my keynote speech and workshop at your next leadership event. Plus, explore my Disruptive Leadership Playbook to put these ideas into action.
Disruption isn’t just about breaking things—it’s about building something better. Lean into your power, challenge the norm, and shape the future with intention.
