Getting their hands dirty.
The mystery of how rebels are made might come down to the way we respond to internal and external motivating forces in our lives. In Gretchen Rubin’s book, The Four Tendencies, she proposes humans are divided into four personality types based on the way in which they respond to various expectations placed on them by outside forces such as family members and bosses, compared with expectations they place on themselves (such as New Year’s resolutions). Upholders are good at complying with both kinds of obligations, Obligers are better at satisfying others’ expectations than their own, and Questioners are the opposite of Obligers.
Rebels, of course, resist all expectations, even those they place on themselves. Woe betide anyone who tries to tell them what to do. Unsurprisingly, this poses special challenges to achieving success when our lives seem to be an endless parade of responsibilities and tasks to perform. The good news is that this personality type can find ways to trick themselves into fulfilling duties when instinctually all they want is choice and freedom. The key is to understand yourself and work with your nature rather than against it.
Rebels are motivated by challenges and being given freedom to express their creativity in how they respond. They take special satisfaction in surprising people who’ve misunderstood or underestimated them. If they find causes they believe in, their feisty natures can turn towards a task rather than away from it, and they’ll blaze away with incredible focus. You’ve just got to make sure their resolve is pointed in the right direction first.
From the medical point of view, the impulse to strain against rules placed on us begins in early childhood, according to clinical psychologist Renee Mill. “People rebel for all sorts of reasons – the most common is to seek autonomy, which is a normal developmental process that starts around two years of age,” she says. “It is important for parents to give as much autonomy as possible, as it helps a child develop good self-esteem. The child feels that their tastes and opinions are valid.”
In their teenage years, Mill says it’s normal for a young person to try out different lifestyles from the one in
It may seem paradoxical, but rebellious types can be brilliant bosses, if they bridle their wayward impulses and channel their passionate side constructively. Here’s how:
Another way rebels in leadership roles can earn admiration from their employees is by their willingness to muck in with everyone else. They reject traditional hierarchies and the expectations that come with them.