This is the danger of playing it too safe at work

These firecrackers commonly push against convention and carry provocative opinions. They’re not necessarily difficult people, but they do colour outside the lines. It’s essential to let them know where those lines are regarding conduct, courtesy, respect, and so on.

Iconoclasts bridle at the idea of having to conform to something like an across-the-board dress code. If you have a conventional set of rules and regulations for your organization, tear it up and rewrite it to be looser about things that don’t really matter that much, like attire. A great example of this is the Tesla anti-handbook handbook. Keep the stuff that protects you legally but be creative on the rest. 

Creative thinkers hate bringing their ideas to their superiors only to have them shot down out of ignorance. Instead, dedicate design, engineering, and other resources that allow Rare Breeds to begin developing their ideas on their own, without approval from higher-ups. That way, if the idea flops, nobody’s embarrassed. If it soars, they can bring it to you already tested.   

If there’s a signal trait common to all unconventional thinkers, it’s intelligence. Most have extraordinarily high IQs, and when you combine that with their native intensity, focus, or nerve, they can intimidate the more conventional personalities in an organization. Look for ways to engage teams in supervised collaboration, so the more conventional minds and the Rare Breeds can work together on equal terms. Everyone is heard, and nobody feels like they’re contributing just because they’re less flashy or outspoken.  

To be fair, hypnotic charisma can be a primary trait of this crew, making customers swoon. But in our experience, more of them are so focused on their visions, so obsessive about perfection, or so impatient with what they see as silly questions that they can come off as short-fused.

Unless you’re blessed with hypnotic charmers who inspire your customers, it’s probably best to keep them clear of the customer-facing part of the business.

The one exception: If your customers are largely Rare Breeds, too, anything goes. 

Courting “risky” people may seem counterintuitive, but so is stagnation.

Rare Breeds infuse organizations with bold thinking, and their ideas rocket those organizations into the stratosphere. Stop worrying about hiring people who will fit into your culture, and start looking for people who will break it…just a little.