Here is another valuable Management Tip of the Day from Harvard Business Review. To sign up for a free subscription, to any/all HBR newsletters, please click here.

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American culture often celebrates heretics, misfits, and entrepreneurs — anyone who challenges the status quo.

Yet, many workplaces do not; instead, conformity and accord are rewarded.

However, a challenging voice can help an organization discover a potential misstep, push to innovate, and ultimately succeed. You can rarely be an effective leader without having a little bit of rebel in you.

Next time you find yourself agreeing with everyone in the room, ask yourself whether that’s truly what’s best for the company. Play devil’s advocate to test assumptions and poke holes in the strategy.

Don’t go too far, of course. Knowing when to step back is as important as knowing when to push.

Today’s Management Tip was adapted from “Are You a Rebel or a Leader?” by Nilofer Merchant.

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