“Challenging the status quo takes commitment, courage, imagination, and, above all, dedication to learning.” - Marshall Ganz
Challenging the status quo can feel like a significant risk, especially when it hasn’t been previously modeled within the organization. When leadership is afraid to ask why things are done a certain way or to seek new opportunities, they are protecting the status quo at the expense of innovation and growth.
When leaders break through their discomfort to question established processes, they create space for innovation and uncover new opportunities for growth. To achieve this, leaders must demonstrate courage and possess the skills to lead change in a way that engages and inspires others. Leaders who would like to see change should anticipate the opportunity to speak up and ask for permission to explore alternatives. To diffuse the potential for a defensive reaction, leaders can start by asking a question about why a process is done a certain way. This approach not only opens the door to dialogue but also models the mindset of a leader committed to learning, experimentation, and continuous improvement —core elements of challenging the process.
The Five Practices of Leadership
Kouzes and Posner are renowned leadership experts known for their influential work in leadership development. They outlined five practices of exemplary leadership in their bookThe Leadership Challenge. These practices are fundamental to effective leadership and widely used in leadership training programs. Here are the Five Practices of Leadership according to Kouzes and Posner:
1. Model the Way
2. Inspire a Shared Vision
3. Challenge the Process
4. Enable Others to Act
5. Recognize and Celebrate (Encourage the Heart)
In this article, we will focus on three key points. Challenge the Process. Learning to Challenge the Process requires leaders to step outside their comfort zones. By questioning why things are done in a certain way and seeking opportunities to innovate, businesses can uncover more efficient and cost-effective processes to help them stay ahead of the competition. Businesses that succeed are willing to look both inside and outside their organization for new ideas about how to get ahead and are open to learning from their mistakes.
What Does Challenge the Process Mean in Practical Terms?
Exemplary leaders are typically bold and willing to innovate and take risks. They experiment, learn from failures, and encourage their team members to do the same. They seek out opportunities for change, growth, and improvement, challenging the status quo to make things better. They understand that measured risks often pay off, and they don’t let ego get in the way of learning from their mistakes. Ultimately, humility and a willingness to learn from mistakes are crucial attributes required to challenge the process.
Key aspects of "Challenge the Process" include:
- Seeking opportunities. When leaders take the initiative to seek opportunities for improvement, they inspire progress, empower their teams, and position their organizations for long-term success.
- Being open to new ideas and risks. When leaders are open to experimenting and taking risks, they are more likely to drive innovation, discover new opportunities, and adapt successfully to changing environments.
- Being open to learning. When leaders are open to learning from their successes and failures, they cultivate a culture of growth, resilience, and continuous improvement within their teams.
Additional ways to Challenge the Process:
- Embracing innovation and experimentation encourages creativity, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and breakthroughs.
- Treating failure as a learning opportunity rather than a punishable offense empowers teams to pursue bold ideas that can drive meaningful progress and innovation.
- Identifying measurable milestones helps keep projects moving forward by providing clear benchmarks for progress. It also allows leaders to assess what's working, make timely adjustments, and sustain momentum.
- Being proactive in anticipating and responding to change prevents unnecessary setbacks and positions teams to adapt quickly and effectively in dynamic environments.
- Promoting continuous learning within teams through training, workshops, and skill development creates a culture that values new ideas and forward thinking.
Strengthen Your Leadership Through a Commitment to Challenge the Process
Leaders who are open to new opportunities and are willing to take measured risks tend to drive innovation and growth. They know that humility and a willingness to learn from mistakes are not signs of weakness, but essential qualities of strong, resilient leadership. Developing comfort with risks and learning to manage the discomfort of failure can be fostered through effective leadership development.
The Heffelfinger Company cultivates leaders and aligns teams to drive sustainable, scalable business results. By embracing the practice of “Challenge the Process”, leaders can create an environment where ideas flow freely, continuous learning is valued, and measured risks are encouraged as a means of driving innovation and growth.
Contact us for a FREE Values Exploration Conversation or to learn more about the Leadership Practices Inventory (Self or 360 version). Discover how you or your team can implement Practice 3 – Challenge the Process to elevate your leadership impact today.
Warmly,
Lori and James
Lori Heffelfinger & James Jackman
Sources:
How to Challenge Your Organization’s Status Quo — Productively. Timothy R. Clark. 12/7/2023. https://hbr.org/2023/12/how-to.... Accessed 6/6/2025.
