Challenger

Despite how irritating they can be, Challengers are an invaluable part of any team.

Supervisors, analytical and other professional staff are not in place just to keep the peace and ensure smooth running.  Without Challengers, an organization could run smoothly into a ditch.  Good Challengers understand the wider environment or have expert knowledge in a specific field, or both.  After several decades, I still remember the rather prickly analyst who persuaded our management team to authorize a particular domain registration and to reorganize accordingly, well before the internet had widely penetrated business.  Although I had only a foggy understanding of his recommendation, I agreed because his logic was clear and his convictions even clearer.  This one valuable moment was the salve on all the raw spots he caused throughout many years of rubbing managers the wrong way.

Challengers are people who have really good ideas, not philosophical time-wasters who are just as irritating. The efforts of Challengers need to be channeled so they can build on their own ideas and make them actionable.  Time-wasters perpetually seem to think their ideas will emerge with just one or two more conversations with their managers, co-workers or even customers.  As managers, we must distinguish between the two: encouraging the former and providing stricter goals and boundaries for the latter.

Are you a Challenger?  If you have good ideas, pursue them energetically.  With some skills in diplomacy and interpersonal communications, you can help steer the organization into a healthy future without irritating your staff, colleagues and bosses.