Combating the Noise of Useless Disruptions

My husband and I recently celebrated our 20th anniversary at the Titanic First Class Dinner Gala—an immersive experience that recreated life aboard the ship the night before the ship sank. Characters roamed the room, playing out the stories of real Titanic passengers. One of them was Dorothy Gibson, a famous actress of her time.

Here’s the thing about Dorothy: she loved to burst into song. Loudly. Often. And unfortunately… her voice was terrible. She was disruptive, alright—but in the worst way possible. Every time she chimed in, it pulled people out of the moment rather than adding to it. And it got to a point where the guests (i.e., all of us) turned down additional opportunities to hear her songs.

If noisy disruption was a person, her name would be Dorothy! This brings out an important observation: disruption is not always nor automatically a good thing.

(And full disclosure—my family and close friends will tell you I’m guilty of the same thing. I’ll randomly break out into song like Dorothy in a heartbeat; but unlike her, I try to keep it under control when necessary…well, mostly. 🤷🏾)

The Buzzword Problem

Today, “disruptor” is the hot title. Everyone wants to be one. It sounds edgy. Powerful. Different. But being disruptive just for the sake of attention? That’s Dorothy Gibson at the Titanic Gala—loud, but not transformative.

True Kingdom disruption is different. It’s not about being the center of attention, making noise, or tearing things down randomly. It’s about strategically dismantling what opposes God’s order and making space for His Kingdom agenda to advance.

What Does It Mean to Be a Strategic Disruptor?

1. Strategic – Disruption without strategy is chaotic. Kingdom strategy comes from Heaven’s blueprint, not personal ego. Think precision strikes, not random outbursts.

2. Disruptive – Disruption challenges the status quo. But Kingdom disruption doesn’t rebel against authority. It rebels against darkness. It interrupts systems, patterns, and lies that keep people bound.

3. Kingdom-Led – Disruption has to be Spirit-driven. Jesus flipping the tables in the temple wasn’t just about anger. It was about alignment with the Father’s will. (And for the record, I do love a good table-flipping, so I can't be TOO mad at you.) The Spirit is the differentiator between holy disruption and human drama.

Wrong vs. Right Kind of Disruption

In business and leadership, disruption shows up in two very different ways:

• The Wrong Kind: A leader who constantly hijacks meetings with half-baked ideas, shoots down others without offering solutions, or changes direction every week “just to keep things fresh.” They call it disruption, but in reality it’s destabilization. It drains trust, stalls execution, and builds resentment. (That’s basically the boardroom version of Dorothy Gibson’s singing—everybody hears you, but nobody’s better for it.)

• The Right Kind: A Kingdom-minded leader who notices when a process is keeping the team bound in bureaucracy, or when an industry “best practice” directly contradicts biblical integrity. Instead of just making noise, they prayerfully target the root issue, cast a clear vision for change, and lead the team into alignment with Kingdom values. That kind of disruption frees people, restores integrity, and positions the organization for lasting fruit.

One disrupts for attention. The other disrupts for transformation and God's glory.

So Here's the Real Question

Are you a Dorothy Gibson—disrupting in ways that distract, frustrate, or feed your own ego? Or are you operating as a Kingdom disruptor—strategically confronting what's attempting to block God’s agenda and building what advances it?

Self-Check for Leaders

Before you call yourself a disruptor, pause and think:

• Am I tearing things down just because I’m restless and need attention or because the Spirit is showing me something out of order?

• When I “shake things up,” do people walk away confused and exhausted, or are they clearer and freer?

• If Heaven weighed my version of disruption, would it look like warfare against darkness or just sound like me making noise?

It’s easy to slap “disruptor” on a bio. It’s harder to live it out in a way that shifts atmospheres and establishes Kingdom order.

That’s why I gather leaders inside The Disruptor’s Council™. It’s where we wrestle with these questions and learn how to disrupt with wisdom, strategy, and eternal impact. Join us if you’re ready to move past buzzwords and into battle-tested leadership.