Ken Blanchard: Constructive Disobedience
The crowd roared, but Ken Blanchard went silent inside.
“This is your game. Take it.”
The Beginning of Constructive Disobedience
Seventeen-year-old Ken sat on the bench while his basketball team fell behind. With seconds left, the coach sent him in. He made three jump shots in a row. The fourth sent the game to overtime. Then double overtime. Sudden death would determine the winner.
Over thirty feet from the basket, Ken stopped. Cocked the ball. Coach Ryan screamed, “NO!” But Ken listened to his inner voice. He won the game.
This would be “the first of several times in Ken Blanchard’s life that he took a shot against all odds and common sense.” (Martha Lawrence writes in Catch People Doing Things Right.)
It wasn’t rebellion. It was constructive disobedience. The kind of disobedience that serves purpose, not pride.
Leaders face moments when obedience feels safe. It’s safe to comply. Courageous leaders risk disapproval.
Constructive disobedience respects authority without surrendering responsibility. It’s the moment you:
- Speak truth when the room wants comfort.
- Defend a person when policy says nothing.
- Take initiative when protocol obstructs action.
Blanchard’s entire leadership philosophy—empowering others, catching people doing things right, leading with love—grew from the seed of constructive disobedience.
Power Tip: Encourage your teammates to question norms and constructively challenge decisions.
Loyalty isn’t being a bobblehead. Act with the team’s best interest in mind.
Author’s note: I’ve interviewed Ken Blanchard several times and met him in West Palm Beach. He strikes me as the real deal. I recommend his biography, Catch People Doing Things Right.
What’s your definition of constructive disobedience? When is it wrong?
Thanks Dan.
We had a moment where I experienced constructive disobedience today at work.. I was able to relate to it after I read your article here. Good learning.
Thanks for sharing, CV. When I think of the best feedback I’ve ever received, it was timely. One time it happened in the moment. It’s memorable.
So much institutional policy is flawed, in that it lacks context. Thus it often calls for non-adherence v rule following. Thanks for this post today.
Great point, Kerry. The people making policies can be disconnected from the people doing the work. Front-line people throw up their hands wondering what’s going on. I’m sure the policy has good intentions behind it. Since, well-intentioned people can be dangerous. Hope you’re doing well.
I was fortunate to have Ken Blanchard as one of my professors wile attending Ohio University. He is the real deal.
I agree. The book indicates who was as a bit of rule-breaker as a professor.
In a society where conformity is taught and rewarded through our entire education system and beyond, it takes a very confident person to not only practice constructive disobedience but do it without looking like a reckless, spiteful person. Those who learn to challenge the status quo (or make decisions that are considered constructive disobedience) through leadership versus authority are most effective. Thanks for a thought provoking post this morning!
Great point, Debbie. It’s not useful when anger or resentment motivate dissent or nonconformity.
Dan great post and lesson learned! We have all benefited from Ken Blanchard’s teachings. And it must have been a heck of a basketball game to watch, long before everything is recorded on line! Brad
So true, Brad. Nothing like a buzzer beater in triple overtime!
Definition: Breaking a rule in the service of the objective, principle, or value from which the rule was derived. “Right now, this is the way!” Wrong: Breaking a rule when it’s more about me or the rule-maker and not the higher purpose. “I’ll show them!”
Thanks, Wretch. Long time no see. I’m glad you dropped in on this one.