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Resistance
You might say , yes , lovely idea , but not going to happen . Dedicated to our company , we have the misconception that freedom untethers us from stewardship of our business , and we dismiss it . This is a false dichotomy . By pitting stewardship against freedom , we diminish both . Without freedom we are confined to ideas from the past , whereas factoring freedom into the equation allows for supple thinking to address the complicated , accelerating rate of change ahead , where leaders need to hold multi-valent positions simultaneously .
So , how can we cultivate freedom and apply it to our business ?
Let ’ s experiment . At an office function , observe yourself . There you are in the center of things . Now imagine yourself stepping away from the conference table and standing near the far wall , watching yourself interact with people . Whom do you choose to speak with ? Are you pulled in by certain people ? Do you initiate conversations ? Are you attentive to those serving you coffee ? Now tag your behavior and reflect upon it . Experiment with engaging differently . By being willing to observe and reflect , and then try something new , you become a more responsive leader , less controlled by your own habitual behavior patterns .
To claim greater freedom as a leader , consider cultivating a larger circumference around your thinking . This next experiment , while more challenging , will heighten your awareness in surprising ways . Most of us are captured not only by our thoughts but also by how we identity with our roles . Can you separate yourself from your idea of yourself as a CEO or leader ? For example , you know why you were hired . Whatever those attributes are , can you set them to the side , can you free yourself from identifying with them ? This includes setting aside your history , your backstory , and how you define yourself , even who you think you are . This temporary letting go will cue you into that greater circumference around your thinking . You ’ ll be able to tap into an awareness unconstrained by previous habits of mind . And it is from this perspective that new , surprising pathways emerge .
We can cultivate freedom by engaging with what the creator of Square , Jim McKelvey , says in his book The Innovation Stack . He depicts innovation as taking place outside the proverbial walls of the city . Within the city , established practices have taken hold , and new ideas unfold at an incremental rate ; copying of ideas and systems abound . Outside the city , where people are working through an untried idea , there is nothing to copy , a situation which creates fear , yes , and also opportunity and speed . Are we interested enough in designing something new to actually step outside the city , freeing ourselves from the tried and true ? Here ’ s an example . When I was CEO of Burgerville , we observed national companies from out of town competing for local resources , and their profit was not being
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