Freedom Based Leadership Is the Answer to Secure Sustainable Development and Improved Results

By Leanne Hoagland-Smith 

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.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Leanne_Hoagland-Smith

 

Are You Only Using Half Your Brain?

By Ananga Sivyer

The Left & Right Hemispheres of Your Brain 

The right side of your brain controls the muscles on the left side of your body and the left side of your brain controls the muscles on the right side of your body. Also, in general, sensory information from the left side of the body crosses over to the right side of your brain and information from the right side of the body crosses over to the left side of your brain. That's why brain damage to one side of the brain affects the opposite side of the body.

Each side of the brain responds to specific stimuli and controls specific activities. For example, the right brain is used for spatial abilities, face recognition, visual imagery and music. And the left brain is used for linear processing, math and logical abilities.

Left Brain functions: 

Logic, reason, maths, language, reading, writing, analysis, detail, short-term memory, repetition, structure, effort focus...

Right Brain functions: 

Facial recognition, rhythm, visual imagery, creativity, emotions, dreams, long-term memory, the bigger picture, music and tone...

Half the Picture 

The way we live in the western world tends to discourage right brain activity. We are conditioned to think in a linear or logical fashion, to control (even suppress) our emotional expressions, to break ideas and pictures down into pieces. But when we are functioning from a left brain bias we are missing out on the broader perspective offered by the right hemisphere; we may have difficulty in piecing images, words or concepts together, and overall we will lack “vision” in the fullest sense of the term.

There is a direct relationship between brain integration and our quality of performance. When the brain is operating in balance the right and left hemispheres can communicate freely with each other; this cooperation between the hemispheres of the brain allows us to accomplish tasks with ease. It facilitates creative intelligence, full exploration of possibilities in problem solving, thinking out of the box for solutions, ideas and projects; and overall reduced mental stress.

In short, the greater the level of cooperation between the hemispheres of the brain - the better we perform.

Cross Crawl - An Easy way to Balance your Brain 

Cross Crawl derives its name from the way babies move when they are crawling. By using opposite arms and legs as they speed across the carpet babies are assisting their developing brain by stimulating the left and right hemispheres at the same time.

The original research and application of cross crawl was used to help brain damaged children. When baby walkers became popular, there was some concern that they got babies on two legs prematurely and encouraged skipping valuable brain developing crawling time.

In recent years, the simple act of encouraging the use of both sides of the brain at the same time has lead to beneficial breakthroughs for children with learning difficulties and challenges with coordination. For adults, the simple cross crawl exercise gets the right hemisphere back online for problem solving, and creative thinking. This helps reduces overall stress and anxiety and gets you thinking smarter.

How to Cross Crawl 

It’s easy! Cross crawl is simply an exaggeration of our normal walking. As an exercise in simultaneously stimulating both hemispheres of the brain cross crawl is done by marching on the spot raising the opposite arm to leg at each step - that is the right arm is moved with the left leg and the left arm is moved with the right leg.

Swinging the opposite arm and leg across the front of the body slightly increases the benefits. Practicing for just 5 minutes here and there throughout the day is enough to start generating real benefits.

Cross Crawl & CFS 

One key benefit of cross crawl is that it assists in the circulation of Cerebro-Spinal Fluid (CSF). CSF performs the vital functions of protecting the delicate tissues of the brain from injury and bathing the tissues of the brain with essential nutrients.

CSF is circulated by tiny movements in the bones of the skull and pelvis which occur during respiration. If the CSF is stagnated it can result in inadequate communication within the central nervous system and difficulties with coordination. An inactive lifestyle with poor breathing habits can result in the flow of CSF becoming sluggish. The opposite can also be taken as true; good respiration and gentle regular exercise enhances the flow of CSF and improves coordination and communication within the nervous system.

Walking and Conscious Crossover 

As adults one key way to increase our personal performance on all levels is by taking regular walks. Walking encourages the left and right hemispheres of the brain to communicate and cooperate - particularly if the walking action is exaggerated by swinging the arms slightly more than usual.

As we walk when we put one foot forward it is controlled by the opposite hemisphere of the brain. For example if we begin with our left foot, the right hemisphere of the brain is brought into action, then when we put our right foot forward the left hemisphere of the brain takes over briefly until we again step out with the right foot. If, while walking we swing the opposite arm i.e. right arm with left foot and vice versa we are encouraging the hemispheres of the brain to work in simultaneous cooperation.

Ancient Ayurvedic healing texts provide extensive information on different body types and specific activities for bringing the energies of the body into balance. Walking is one of only a few activities which are considered to be beneficial to all body types. It is a safe and self-regulating activity from which there can only be benefit.

The Benefits of Regular Cross Crawl 

The benefits of regular periods of cross crawling include:

• Clear thinking

• Improved coordination & spatial awareness

• Left/Right hemisphere brain balance

• Reduced stress

• Improved vision

• Emotional balance

• Improved memory

• Improved mental clarity

• Stimulation of the lymphatic system

• Spelling, writing

• Reading & comprehension

Cross Crawl Variations 

Sitting - moving the opposite arm and leg together

Marching on the spot - reaching behind the body touching one hand to the opposite foot

Reaching - with the opposite arm and leg in different directions

Laying Down - laying on the back and raising opposite arms and legs

Ananga Sivyer is a health writer with a passion for helping people feel positive and in control of thier lives.

For more articles like this and FREE meditation & relaxation MP3 downloads join on her Living by Design Blog at http://www.ananga.squarespace.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ananga_Sivyer