19 Aug Positive Deviance: How to Create and Support Extraordinary Behaviour at Work and in Life
In any group—whether a company team, a classroom, or a family—there are always a few individuals who find a way to thrive, often in surprising and unconventional ways. They face the same constraints, the same rules, the same challenges, yet they succeed where others don’t. These individuals are called positive deviants.
Positive Deviance (PD) is a concept from Positive Organisational Scholarship (POS) that refers to behaviors that deviate from the norm in a positive, ethical, and constructive direction. PD is not about breaking the rules for selfish gain; it’s about bending norms to improve outcomes for everyone—and it applies just as much to your home and community as it does to your job.
What Is Positive Deviance?
Coined in organisational science, PD is defined as “intentional behaviours that depart from the norms of a group in honourable ways” (Spreitzer & Sonenshein, 2004). Positive deviants don’t merely resist status quo—they improve it. They create better outcomes, often with the same tools, time, or resources as everyone else.
In the workplace, a positive deviant might be someone who starts a peer-mentoring program before HR does, or who informally brings departments together to solve a recurring issue. In your personal life, a positive deviant might be the neighbour who organises weekly clean-up walks or the parent who designs creative family rituals to boost connection.
The Science Behind It
Research shows that most people default to social norms—they follow the group. But positive deviants are more likely to act from intrinsic motivation, guided by values like compassion, curiosity, or courage.
According to Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000), people are more likely to act in meaningful and proactive ways when three needs are met:
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Autonomy – They feel free to choose.
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Competence – They feel capable.
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Relatedness – They feel connected to others.
Positive deviance often emerges when these needs are supported—whether by a team leader, a partner, or a community. Likewise, psychological safety (Edmondson, 1999) is critical: people are more likely to deviate constructively when they know they won’t be punished for trying something new.
How to Be a Positive Deviant (At Work and at Home)
You don’t need a fancy job title or a perfect plan. You just need the courage to act differently—for the better.
1. Notice what’s already working well
Start with bright spots. Who in your team or community is getting better results with the same resources? What habits in your personal life make things run more smoothly or joyfully?
2. Challenge “the way things are”
Ask: “What if we tried this differently?” or “What’s a better way to solve this?” Small shifts in thinking can create big ripple effects.
3. Take small, ethical actions
Whether it’s redesigning your calendar to reduce burnout, or calling out kindness instead of conflict in your home, positive deviance often starts with micro-behaviours.
4. Act before you’re told
PDs don’t wait for permission to make things better—they do it because it’s the right thing. This can mean taking initiative at work, or starting a gratitude practice at home that lifts your whole household.
5. Share your wins—and your learnings
When something works, share it. Not as bragging, but as a blueprint. Your small experiment might be someone else’s big breakthrough.
How to Support Positive Deviants Around You
Whether you lead a team, raise a family, or volunteer in your community, you can help others thrive through positive deviance.
1. Model psychological safety
Welcome ideas. Ask open-ended questions. Let people know it’s safe to try, fail, and try again.
2. Celebrate creative problem-solving
Shine a light on people doing things differently and successfully. Whether it’s an innovative employee or a thoughtful friend, acknowledgment fuels more positive deviance.
3. Ask “what’s working?” regularly
Instead of only solving problems, search for what’s going unusually well—and find ways to replicate it.
4. Don’t over-formalise
Positive deviance often dies in bureaucracy. Support autonomy. Give space for informal success to emerge organically.
Final Thought
Positive deviance reminds us that improvement doesn’t always come from authority, policy, or tradition. It often comes from people who care enough to do things differently—at work, at home, or in the community.
We can all be positive deviants. We can all notice what’s working, act on our values, and inspire others to do the same. And when we do, we don’t just make things better—we make better things possible.