Probably by understanding the main objective vs the inefficiencies of the policy's and procedures put in place......and by reading the room. 

I think most people have worked for a formalist type that's a stickler for the rules, in my experience that form of leadership isn't very welcomed by other employees, but maybe that's just the experience I've had through my jobs. 

TheWildHustle

Nice. How do you hone your intuition along the way?

cryotosensei

AskSN

AskSN: are you a formalist or informalist leader?

Informalist

I've often built trust and cohesion with groups through my disregard for protocol. Even higher ups have praised me for reading in between the lines and just getting the job done.