Rule breaking by employees? Be flexible!
I know some readers might be thinking, “Break a rule? Discipline follows.” But a recent article by the editors of the Harvard Business Review (HBR)—“How the Best Leaders Respond to Rule Breaking” (July/August 2026)—recommends a contrarian approach. Let’s take a look!
Four types of rule breakers
According to the HBR, there are four types who fall into two groups: destructive and constructive.
Destructive rule breakers are either:
· Self-interested (“I choose to break this rule for personal gain.”); or
· Corrupted (“I feel pressured from colleagues to break this rule for organizational gains.”).
By contrast, constructive rule breakers are either:
· Prosocial (“I choose to break this rule to help someone.”); or
· Edified (“I feel pressure from outside the organization to break this rule to help others.”).
Managing rule breakers