Leadership is still a hot topic among executives in all industries including education, government, health care, manufacturing, professional services and technology. In the book Fail-Safe Leadership by Linda Martin and Dr. David Mutchler, the authors define leadership as the ability to secure results using clearly articulated core values.
With many organizations and businesses having fewer people to do more work, there exists a gap between productivity and results. Business owners and executives are desperately seeking employees who have strong work ethics and these works ethics must extend beyond the traditional ones of coming to work on time, being a team player, etc. Today's knowledge workers must have strong, internalized skills that will not only allow them to make decisions that will produce results with little direction or management, but to know when to ask for specific clarification when absolutely necessary.
To create such an employee requires the execution of 2 separate strategies simultaneously:
• Create an environment that promotes individuals to have the freedom to take the right actions in the process of securing the desired results.
• Develop individuals with the necessary interpersonal skills to utilize their freedom to make
the right decisions to secure the desired results.
Additionally, these two strategies must recognize that today’s educational systems, for the most part, are structured to create:
• Assembly Line Workers
• Assembly Line Thinking
• Assembly Line Behavior
• Assembly Line Results that lack creativity, flexibility, innovation and ingenuity
Years ago, a very wise man told me that "No one looks good in a bad system." To secure sustainable results means that both the work environment and the individual must be in sync or as the popular term goes "rowing in the same direction."
Now you may be thinking this sounds really good and is exactly what my organization needs to reach that next level of success. However, you may be asking yourself:
• What is Freedom based Leadership?
• And more importantly
• How Do I Achieve Freedom Based Leadership within my business or organization?
What is Freedom Based Leadership?
Freedom based leadership is a developmental process that aligns the innate desire within all individuals to achieve goals through efficient and effective decision making that promotes proactive personal responsibility toward desire results.
How Do I Achieve Freedom Based Leadership?
Since freedom based leadership is a developmental process, this recognizes that the sustainability for securing the results must be internalized by all individuals within the organization. This also demands that the organization establishes and consistently reinforces performance benchmarks across the organization. Finally, the organization must identify the necessary missing "soft skills" including consistent goal achievement if they truly want a culture of Freedom Based Leadership. The guiding question should be "Do I want to do it?" instead of "Do I know it?" Remember, results are the outcomes from performance and performance failure is usually due to poorattitudes and habits (the want to do) and not because of a lack of knowledge or skills (the know it).
Yes, there is a simple formula for Freedom Based Leadership for individuals. This formula is:
B drive (A + S + K) + (m&m)G = PBC therefore IP
Beliefs drive the Attitudes combined with Skills and Knowledge when added to my and measurable goals will create Positive Behavior Changes therefore Improved Performance, Improved Productivity, Improved Profitability and Improved Potential.
Also, there is a simple formula for Freedom Based Leadership for organizations. This formula is:
V + M + CSF + G + AS = R
Vision is the starting point. This drives the Mission that creates the Critical Success Factors from which Goals combined with specific action steps produce the Results.
Just imagine a working environment where people take the initiative to make decisions instead of asking permission every time a question or problem arises. Yes, mistakes will be made, but this is the way people learn. However, if the expectations are established up front and the environment is truly freedom based, employees will feel free to admit the mistakes and ask supervisors what actions should now be taken. All individuals will have a greater sense of What’s In It For Me (WIFFM) leading to greater What’s In It for Us (WIIFU).
If your organization truly wants to reach that next level of success and compete within the 21st century knowledge economy, then Freedom based leadership is your best solution.
P.S. To see Freedom Based Leadership in action watch reruns of Star Trek the Next Generation and observe everyone as they perform their duties.
Leanne Hoagland-Smith quickly doubles results for her clients from individuals (small businesses owners, entrepreneurs and young people) to large organizations by creating executable strategic action plans along with the necessary leadership skills to pull it off. Please feel free to contact Leanne at 219.759.5601 or visit http://www.processspecialist.com/ and explore how she can help you.
If you enjoyed this article and wish for Leanne to speak on this topic of Freedom Based Leadership, please give her a call at 219.759.5601.
Look for Leanne at the AASPA National Conference in Detroit, MI on October 19 & 20, 2006 where she speaks on Freedom Based Leadership and Strategic Planning.
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