The document provides tips for overcoming the top 5 mistakes made by rebels in challenging the status quo. It lists not prioritizing ideas, going solo, flunking pitch meetings, giving up too soon, and ignoring personal danger signs as the top 5 mistakes. The document then gives advice and exercises for each mistake, such as how to prioritize ideas, communicate new ideas visually, prepare for pitch meetings, grow courage and resilience, and know when to quit pushing an idea. The overall aim is to provide rebels with strategies for effectively driving change from within organizations.

1. PRACTICES:
OVERCOMING
TOP 5 REBEL
MISTAKES
©2017 Based on
Rebels at Work: A Handbook for Leading Change from Within
By Lois Kelly and Carmen Medina
©Rebels at Work 1
December 2017

2. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 2
1. Be positive.
2. Frame idea within context of what is valued.
3. Learn how to facilitate messy collaboration.
4. Communicate in ways that influence vs.
explain.
5. Address the cost/value tradeoff.
6. Address the fears.
7. Show how success can be measured.
8. Paint a picture of what better feels like.
9. Learn how to have difficult conversations.
10.Let ideas breathe.
11.Start the flame, tap into the collective brilliance
of others to fuel the fire.
12.Stay out of drama
13.When angry, stop and wonder why.
14.Strive for influence not power.
15.Share the glory.
16.Pick the right boss or executive sponsor.
17.Ask good questions, become a keen listener.
18.Be thoughtful in all you do.
19.Know when to walk away.
20.Believe you are enough.
20 WAYS TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE REBEL

3. TOP 5 MISTAKES*
1. NOT PRIORITIZING IDEAS
2. GOING SOLO
3. FLUNKING PITCH MEETING
4. GIVING UP TOO SOON
5. IGNORING PERSONAL DANGER
SIGNS
©Rebels at Work 3
* “5 Mistakes Employees Make When Challenging the Status Quo,”
Harvard Business Review, Lois Kelly and Carmen Medina

4. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 4
Something specific you’d like to change, do, or
see done differently:
Low Med High
Do I believe it’s possible?
How important is it to what’s
valued?
How easy is it?
How much do I want to do it?*
How likely will 10% support it?
* “On Giving a Shit,” Lois Kelly
PRIORITIZING: Say No to two or more ”lows”

5. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 5
WHAT FEARS DO YOU HAVE AROUND THIS
IDEA?
FEARS
What can you learn from these fears?
• This is so important to me that it scares me.
• I need to learn more to do this.
• I need help.
• There is some danger to navigate.
• Run! I don’t want to get tangled in this.

6. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 6
COMMUNICATING A NEW IDEA
Make the status quo unappealing
Speed write: 10 things that about status quo that
are energy sucking. Then circle, top three.

7. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 7
COMMUNICATING YOUR IDEA:
Visual storytelling
What’s the image?
What’s the image?

8. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
How does the idea
support what’s valued
and/or important?
In other words:
What’s the SO WHAT?
THE PITCH MEETING
Step one: What’s at stake?
©Rebels at Work 8
One straightforward sentence.
Avoid jargon, corporate speak.

9. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
What will make this idea
successful.
THE PITCH MEETING
Step two: Show it can work
©Rebels at Work 9
People support ideas they
Think will work. List major
milestones to show you’ve
thought through how to
make this idea succeed.

10. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
THE PITCH MEETING
Step three: Show support (10% tipping point)
©Rebels at Work 10
# people in the organization: __________________
10% means we need to win over this many: ________
What relationships are most important to develop?
Who is likely to be supportive?
Who has a large informal network?
Who has a large formal network?
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________
______________________________________

11. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
THE PITCH MEETING
Step four: Ask for feedback; forge relationships
©Rebels at Work 11
What did you like about this idea?
How might we make it stronger?
Is there something we missed?
What other support is important?
We’d like to start by (X), will you support this?
Would you help by (X)?

12. DON’T GIVE UP TOO SOON
GROW YOUR COURAGE
Honesty
Speaking the truth, being authentic
Recent example of being honest:
Perseverance
Finishing what you start
Something tough I finished:
Enthusiasm
Approaching life with excitement, energy
Work project that got my juices going:
Bravery
Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty
Situation where I stood up for something or
someone:
Courage spotting: Note where you’ve acted courageously recently
12@LoisKelly/@RebelsatWork

13. Honesty
Speaking the truth, being authentic
If I were more honest with my team (or myself) I
would:
Perseverance
Finishing what you start
I wish I was more tenacious when it comes to:
Enthusiasm
Approaching life with excitement, energy
Doing these things give me energy and a
positive perspective:
Bravery
Not shrinking from threat, challenge, difficulty
If I were 10% braver I could:
13@LoisKelly/@RebelsatWork
Courage development: What can you do to grow your courage muscles?
DON’T GIVE UP TOO SOON
GROW YOUR COURAGE

14. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 14
HEED PERSONAL DANGER SIGNS
When should you quit your job?
• Your values are irreconcilable.
• No one has your back.
• Frustration and anger is turning
you into someone you don’t
want to be.
When should you quit your idea?
• No one willing to support.
• Lower and lower on agenda.
• Hurting your credibility.
• When the horse dies, get off.

15. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 15
HEED PERSONAL DANGER SIGNS
Resiliency for Rebels (and everyone else)
Three good things, every night
Set “want to” goals
Door open, door closed
Name that emotion
Self-compassion letter
Don’t become a drama queen
Use your character strengths
Love thy team members
Make a friends and family plan
Nourish your body and soul

16. Rebels at Work WORKBOOK
©Rebels at Work 16
COME TO COURAGE CAMP: SUMMER 2018
“Throughout the study’s assessments of female CEOs, a
combination of four traits and competencies emerged as
key to their success: courage, risk-taking, resilience,
and managing ambiguity.”
www.couragecamp.net These 4 traits key
to Rebels, too.

17. 17
Bad Rebel Good Rebel
Complain Create
Me-focused Mission focused
Pessimist Optimist
Problems Possibilities
Break rules Change rules
Energy-sapping Energy-generating
Alienate people Attract support
Assertions Questions
Solo Together
Pinpoint fingers Pinpoint causes
Lecture Listen
Worry that Wonder if
Obsessed Reluctant
Source: Rebels at Work
©Rebels at Work

18. Learn more:
Get the book.
Subscribe to the newsletter.
Follow @rebelsatwork.
Read other rebels’ stories.
Download our presentations.
Read our blog.
Connect on Facebook.
Create a Rebel Wild Pack!
©Rebels at Work 18
A Handbook for Leading
Change from Within
Lois Kelly & Carmen Medina
REBELS
ATWORK
“Rebels at Work is the essential guide to rocking the boat. From the trenches,
Lois Kelly and Carmen Medina outline how to gain credibility, pitch ideas,
navigate politics, manage conflict, and maintain sanity.”
—Adam Grant, Wharton professor and
New York Times bestselling author of Give and Take
Lois Kelly: @LoisKelly
Carmen Medina: @Milouness
www.rebelsatwork.com
www.couragecamp.net