Risk, the BIZ Experiences and Intelligent Disobedience Don't leave your business vulnerable to risks you can do something about.

By Ira Chaleff Edited by Dan Bova

Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.

Shutterstock

BIZ Experiencess have a lot to worry about - raising capital, securing patents and trademarks, being first to market, putting together the right team, holding it together, creating buzz, strain on family time -- do you really need to hear about one more area of concern?

Yes, you do.

BIZ Experiencess are so busy launching their companies and their products and services that, except in the most regulated of industries, they don't feel the need to put risk management towards the top of their to-do list. There will be time enough for that once the launch is successful.

Really?

What if the pressure to launch - internal and external -- is so great that to achieve the feat you need to screen out any cautionary voices trying to warn you of potentially fatal flaws? What if those flaws can kill your reputation before it is made, can trigger the defection of key team members or mire you in lawsuits and battles with regulatory bodies? It's hard to swim once there is an anchor around your neck.

What is the answer to this dilemma?

The right question is who is the answer to this dilemma?

Related: Kanye West Makes a Surprisingly Important Point About Role Models

It is your people, those with whom you surround yourself to achieve your goals. Rationally, you want to be able to count on them to warn you of risks you do not see, to pull you back from decisions likely to injure your chances of success, to generate alternatives that are both better and safer.

But will you or they act rationally? It's not likely. A significant amount of research shows human beings are more likely to obey an authority, who is wrong, than risk countering that authority and earning his or her displeasure or retribution.

All of which leaves you and your company vulnerable.

Related: The Best 25 Motivational Quotes To Kick Start Every Morning

How do you overcome this risk factor while flying the plane? Because of human nature the actions to take aren't easy, but they are doable. Here are a few points to keep in mind:

  1. Never change lanes without checking your mirrors and looking over your shoulder.
  2. What? I thought we were talking about running a company, not driving a car.
  3. We are. You know your car has blind spots so you never change lanes without checking the mirrors and looking over your shoulder. Do the same in your company.

But how do you this?

Related: Amazon Has Joined These Companies in Offering Shorter Workweeks

  1. First, don't oversell your idea or plan. You make it too risky to counter it. Raise your idea as tentative and your plan as a draft. Ask for what they see that you may be missing.
  2. Next, stay alert to dissent, and elevate and explore it instead of shutting it down. Prove that you really do want others' ideas.
  3. Even more memorably, if subordinates receive an order they perceive to be too risky to implement and; therefore, resist doing so, thank them for their integrity.
  4. Thank them for disobeying me?
  5. Thank them, even if it costs you money. Never accept "I was doing what you told me to do" as an answer for anything. Everyone is responsible for their choices.
  6. Go make money. Now, you will be able to keep it.
  7. Give everyone copies of my book Intelligent Disobedience. Hey, I'm an BIZ Experiences too.
  8. Their families will thank you because I also show how to keep their kids safe (and yours).

Read this again. Practice it. Enjoy your increased chances for success.

Ira Chaleff

Founder and president of Executive Coaching & Consulting Associates

Ira Chaleff is the best-selling author of The Courageous Follower and Intelligent Disobedience, as well as the founder of the International Leadership Association’s Followership Learning Community and a member of the ILA board of directors. He is a frequent speaker and workshop presenter on Courageous Followership, and is adjunct faculty at Georgetown University.

Want to be an BIZ Experiences Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Science & Technology

OpenAI's Latest Move Is a Game Changer — Here's How Smart Solopreneurs Are Turning It Into Profit

OpenAI's latest AI tool acts like a full-time assistant, helping solopreneurs save time, find leads and grow their business without hiring.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for BIZ Experiencess to pursue in 2025.

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Money & Finance

These Are the Expected Retirement Ages By Generation, From Gen Z to Boomers — and the Average Savings Anticipated. How Do Yours Compare?

Many Americans say inflation prevents them from saving enough and fear they won't reach their financial goals.

Business Solutions

Boost Team Productivity and Security With Windows 11 Pro, Now $15 for Life

Ideal for BIZ Experiencess and small-business owners who are looking to streamline their PC setup.

Starting a Business

I Built a $20 Million Company by Age 22 While Still in College. Here's How I Did It and What I Learned Along the Way.

Wealth-building in your early twenties isn't about playing it safe; it's about exploiting the one time in life when having nothing to lose gives you everything to gain.