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Why might insubordination be a good thing? Normally when we use that word, it\u2019s seen as a negative. \u2028But there\u2019s an alternative interpretation, where insubordination is seen as a positive, constructive challenge to traditional orthodoxy. For ideas to evolve and societies to progress\xa0\u2014\xa0in other words, if we want to mitigate human risk - we need to cultivate\xa0rebels\xa0who are committed to\xa0challenging\xa0conventional wisdom and improving\xa0on it.\xa0

But change is never easy. And it's not easy being a rebel. Particularly if you don\u2019t have the skills to overcome hostile audiences who cling desperately to the way things are. Which is where my guest comes in.

He\u2019s Todd Kashdan, Professor of psychology and director of the Well-Being Laboratory at George Mason University in Virginia. Todd\u2019s research explores why people suffer, with an emphasis on the transition from normal to pathological anxiety.

Todd has just written a book called \u2018The Art of Insubordination: how to dissent and defy effectively\u2019, which provides a toolkit for constructive insubordination.

When I first came across Todd\u2019s book \u2014 with huge thanks to friend of the show, Dr Zoe Chance \u2014 It\u2019s incredible. It\u2019s a book I wished I\u2019d read decades ago and one I\u2019m nos repeatedly dipping into as I work on delivering my human risk mission of bringing behavioural science to ethics & compliance.

In our discussion, we explore what prompted Todd to write the book, why insubordination can be a good thing, what the obstacles are to being insubordinate and what we can all do to bring more insubordination into our lives.

Some of the things we discuss on the show:
\u2028Todd and his research: https://toddkashdan.com/

The Art of Insubordination: how to dissent & defy effectively - https://toddkashdan.com/the-art-of-insubordination/

Serge Muscovici - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serge_Moscovici

Dr Zoe Chance & her book \u2018Influence Is Your Superpower\u2019 - https://www.zoechance.com/
Hear Zoe on this show here: https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/dr-zoe-chance-on-influence/

Professor Vanessa Bohns & her book \u2018You Have More Influence Than You Think\u2019 - https://www.vanessabohns.com/
Hear Vanessa on this show here: https://www.humanriskpodcast.com/professor-vanessa-bohns-on-influence/

David Foster Wallace & his novel Infinite Jest - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infinite_Jest

L\u2019esprit de l\u2019escalier, the idea that we always think of the perfect answer after the event - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27esprit_de_l%27escalier