Disruptors can be seen as threats within organizations because they challenge the status quo and existing ways of doing things. They bring new ideas, approaches, and technologies that can make established processes and systems obsolete.

Reading this, you may think: But wait, aren’t those the type of employees and leaders we want?

I agree.

While labelled “disruptors”, these leaders – regardless of level – are actually those we should be empowering, engaging and enabling for future growth.

Disruptors bring a number of benefits to organizations and industries:

1. Innovation: Disruptors often bring fresh perspectives, new ideas, and innovative technologies that can lead to significant improvements in products, services, and processes.

2. Customer Value: Disruptors are often focused on delivering value to customers in new and innovative ways, which can result in greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.

3. Retention and Recruitment: Disruptors often attract talent, employees who are looking to work differently and who seek a more innovative leadership style. Disruptors often adapt ways of working that are far closer to best practices of future of work than traditional approaches.

4. Increased efficiency: Disruptors can help organizations become more efficient and productive by streamlining processes and improving the use of resources.

5. Change and improvement: Disruptors can challenge the status quo and push organizations to constantly improve, leading to long-term success and growth.

And yet despite these benefits, some organizations fail to mobilize disruptors and instead, see them as threats. We then see resistance and pushback from those who are invested in the current system, leadership styles, or ways of working rather than recognizing how disruptors can be incredible allies and future leaders that can push organizations to new heights.

Failing to recognize this talent within an organization can have far-reaching and negative impacts on employee morale, opportunities for growth, efficiency, innovation, and future success.

So, if you’re a disruptor … don’t see it as a Scarlet letter branding you as a threat. You are what the future needs and more organizations need to realize that.

“Influential people are never satisfied with the status quo. They’re the ones who constantly ask, ‘What if?’ and ‘Why not?’ They’re not afraid to challenge conventional wisdom and they don’t disrupt things for the sake of being disruptive; they do it to make things better.”