Rule Bending
The mindset and practice of knowing the rules yet finding creative ways of pushing the boundaries, bending the rules and reinventing the way a game is played. Breaking the rules just for the sake of it makes no sense. Continually challenging everything is not courage but a lack of focus. The pressure to conform is self-imposed. That is why we must intentionally remind ourselves to get out of our “Rivers of Thinking” and to challenge ourselves to think about how we can bend or break a rule.
Download the behavior guideWhen to Apply Rule Bending
There are right times and wrong times to bend the rules. Understanding when to break the rules requires wisdom and judgment. Corporate rules tend to limit people rather than enable them to do more and better. The litmus test we recommend is to ask if the rule is holding back progress and possibility. But just as importantly, before breaking a rule, evaluate if the outcome is worth it. Will the outcome justify the consequences of bending or breaking that rule.
"Creativity involves breaking out of established patterns in order to look at things in a different way."
– Edward De Bono
Innovation Thought Leader
How to Practice Rule Bending
-
1
Start with Injecting Creative Juice into Your Life - Read a magazine you wouldn't ordinarily read, change your traditional way of going to work or change the direction of your daily walk, listen to an entirely different podcast or radio station.
-
2
Look for Rules to Broken! Being a rule bender starts with always being on the lookout for rules to bend or break. Look at every system and ask "why?" and think about what would happen if you were to break it.
-
3
Talk to People from Parallel Worlds: Make it a point to meet and talk with people who live and work in domains that are different than yours. Make it a mission to learn how they solve similar problems to the ones you face in your world.
-
3
Search for Inspiration: Every great idea has already been invented. Today it's just about remixing them. Study past product innovations and social innovations. Look for the premise and key insights.
-
4
Make it a Game! Invite friends, family and colleagues to help you find "Stupid Rules" that deserve to be broken. And then generate as many wild and zany ways of breaking them. You just might find some real and intriguing ones to put into practice.
Download the Rule Bending Guide
Get access to a detailed guide on how to apply this behavior in your practice
Download now
The
Deliberate Rule Bending Guide
Additional Tips & Resources!
How Leaders Can Grow a Garden of Innovation
Imagine this: the head honcho of your organization just laid down the gauntlet – “I want breakthrough ideas, and I want them yesterday!” Sounds familiar?
Read more
A Lateral Thinking Exercise: Reinventing America’s Pastime
On May 8, 1984, American baseball made the record books. The Milwaukee Brewers faced the Chicago White Sox in a classic duel that would end 7-6....
Read More
In Search of Novelty: The Deliberate Use of Metaphors
Now, more than ever, large organizations are trying to keep pace with nimble&
Read More
