E034 Conformity and Nonconformity

10/17/23 • 29 min

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E034

Conformity and Nonconformity

Key takeaway: Conformism vs. nonconformism is an issue that comes up often in life. It comes up when you are young and trying to figure out what to do. It comes up in business. Consider the context, be thoughtful, and accept that there’s probably a reason for the rule. Be effective when challenging rules by showing you understand the context.

Topics covered in this video:

When should you do what other people are doing and why? When can you go your own way?
How the military approaches conformity and why (nonconformity is not an option).
Companies also have rules and regulations. It’s necessary to understand the reasons for a rule before you should challenge it. That’s a better way to help organizations adapt over time.
When it’s appropriate to conform as an individual: rules are beneficial and following them will increase your odds of success (e.g. go to school, get an education, start work before you get married), following the rules is beneficial to your success
When you’re new to an organization, it’s helpful to conform at first while you gather background information to understand why the rules are the way they are
Nonconformity means bucking the majority trend (what everyone else does), standing out
Achieving exceptional results may require nonconformity
Consider behavior in terms of risk-taking: consider downsides as well as upsides
If you’re the leader, it helps to explain why rules were put in place: increases compliance, gives people a chance to ask questions, allows for updating of rules
Cultural norms influence individuals’ willingness to conform to societal rules
Your compliance with a rule has an impact on others around you - are you being nonconformist to improve your own life, or to be provocative or even offensive?
Mindless adherence to rules that defy common sense is also problematic

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Randy's Editor Webpage: https://randysurles.com/

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E034

Conformity and Nonconformity

Topics covered in this video:

When should you do what other people are doing and why? When can you go your own way?
How the military approaches conformity and why (nonconformity is not an option).
Companies also have rules and regulations. It’s necessary to understand the reasons for a rule before you should challenge it. That’s a better way to help organizations adapt over time.
When it’s appropriate to conform as an individual: rules are beneficial and following them will increase your odds of success (e.g. go to school, get an education, start work before you get married), following the rules is beneficial to your success
When you’re new to an organization, it’s helpful to conform at first while you gather background information to understand why the rules are the way they are
Nonconformity means bucking the majority trend (what everyone else does), standing out
Achieving exceptional results may require nonconformity
Consider behavior in terms of risk-taking: consider downsides as well as upsides
If you’re the leader, it helps to explain why rules were put in place: increases compliance, gives people a chance to ask questions, allows for updating of rules
Cultural norms influence individuals’ willingness to conform to societal rules
Your compliance with a rule has an impact on others around you - are you being nonconformist to improve your own life, or to be provocative or even offensive?
Mindless adherence to rules that defy common sense is also problematic

Support the show

Previous Episode

E033 Working and Understanding the System

Passionately Wrong Podcast Episode E033

Understanding Organization Systems

Key takeaway: To be most effective at work, you need to understand the systems that your organization follows. They may be written or unwritten, but your first task is understanding how things really work. Then, if not everything is working perfectly, you might be able to make improvements. Challenging the system head-on can be counterproductive, but James and Randy share ways that you can make progress.

Topics covered in this video:

Understanding the rules of the game (the system you’re in)
First, master the core job - what you’re there for
The military experience: new bosses often, need to align expectations
Bosses also have a key responsibility to help employees thrive
Why asking questions is helpful
How & how often does your boss want you to interact with them? About what topics?
What a status report can do for you
Why fighting the rules of the system itself is unproductive
Why being open-minded is good, as boss and employee
How to work with (and around) a boss or employees who resist change
Read the SOPs, create them if they don’t exist
Why policies are not perfect and how to criticize them effectively
Add value to your organization

Support the show

Next Episode

E035 Myths of Being a Freelance Editor

Key takeaway: Randy gives an overview of what an editor does, how editors work, and why a writer might benefit from the various services an editor can provide. Suggestions for budding authors and editors.

Topics covered in this video:

A day in the life of an editor - Randy’s path to becoming an editor, and how he spends his time now
Paid work, free work, people have multiple motives for wanting to work as editors (including supporting their writing careers)
How does an amateur editor get additional skills? Developmental editors versus copy editors and line editors.
Story Grid development editing, Editor certification course - system & methodology of editing. What are the elements of a story that people expect to see?
Picking clients - how to match editors with clients (and vice versa). Randy’s discovery call
Editing vs. outlining vs. book coach vs. ghostwriting
Why it’s so helpful to just finish a draft of your book
Scenes are the basic building blocks of a book - can a person write a compelling scene: conflict, action, internal dilemmas, etc.
Handling feedback - clients who listen, and those who aren’t ready
How the editing business model works for Randy: charging by the word, by session, ghost writing per hour
Hard to edit your own work - an independent look is necessary
How Randy’s editing skills have allowed him to help with other types of writing: newsletters, applications, essays
Genre expertise - editors can improve anything, but genre expertise is helpful