Todd Kashdan, Ph.D. and Jane McGonigal, Ph.D.: The Art of Insubordination

For too long, we painted a dark picture of insubordination. A word defined as someone who is a problem. However, there is untapped value in embracing and permitting principled rebels.
For ideas to evolve and for societies to progress, we desperately need rebels to challenge conventional wisdom and improve on it. Unfortunately, most of us fear non-conformists, perceiving them as disloyal, reckless, or just plain weird. Because most would-be rebels lack the strength and skills to overcome hostile audiences, principled insubordination remains an under-leveraged asset in the workplace and public square.
In The Art of Insubordination: How to Dissent and Defy Effectively, Todd Kashdan, Ph.D. presents a guidebook for anyone seeking constructive influence when making change and rebelling against an unhealthy status quo. He offers evidence-based strategies to become better allies of our leaders in change, ensuring that the best ideas, products, and solutions survive and win the day. Filled with fresh and engaging stories about dissenters in the trenches as well as science that will make you see the world in a different way, he explores topics that are central to productive conflict and the design of healthier societies: courage, curiosity, creativity, psychological strengths, mental agility, resilience, and well-being.
A Professor of Psychology at George Mason University, and a leading authority on well-being, curiosity, courage, and resilience, Prof. Kashdan has published over 200 scientific articles, and he received the American Psychological Association’s Award for Distinguished Scientific Early Career Contributions to Psychology. His books Curious? and The Upside of Your Dark Side have been translated into over 15 languages. His writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, National Geographic, and other publications, and his research is featured regularly in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, Fast Company, and Time Magazine.
Prof. Kashdan will be in conversation with Jane McGonigal, Ph.D. (FAN ’22), director of Games Research and Development at the Institute for the Future and author of the new book Imaginable: How to See the Future Coming and Feel Ready for Anything-Even Things That Seem Impossible Today.