Freedom and Leadership on a Deeper, Personal Level
As we observe political unrest and despotism around the world, it’s a reminder that we are incredibly blessed to live in a nation founded on the concept of freedom and individual liberty. Our deepest longing as humans is to be truly free, a right America’s Founders recognized in the Declaration of Independence and codified in our Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Thankfully, there are many organizations dedicated to protecting that freedom. That’s why America’s Future’s mission is inspiring: “AF recruits and cultivates young professionals to become effective, lifelong advocates who will inspire their peers to embrace freedom.”
When we consider the concept of freedom, we often think of America’s Founding Fathers, or the Bill of Rights, or the network of organizations that advocate for individual liberty. But from a leadership perspective, there is a much deeper, more personal level of freedom that we can experience: emotional freedom.
As a leader, it’s imperative that each of us becomes aware of the thoughts or feelings that constrain us from leading well. This is often referred to as emotional regulation. How often have we witnessed a truly talented political or corporate leader who blows up in a meeting, or lashes out at staff? They unconsciously allow their emotions to control them in a way that undermines their leadership and can create a toxic culture.
During the LEAD Fellowship, participants learn about emotional regulation and why it is so important for being an effective and respected leader. We discuss the difference between a reaction (acting unconsciously) and a response (consciously choosing how you will act).
Within our mind, there is a chain reaction that occurs: we have a thought, which is escalated by an emotion, which leads to our actions. For example, a leader may think, “My staff aren’t performing well; it makes me look bad.” This thought—whether accurate or not—is juiced up by the emotion of frustration. Without even being aware of it, the leader then acts on this thought and emotion and starts yelling at staff.
At any point in this cycle (thought – feeling – action), the leader has the chance to pause and consciously choose their thought, feeling, and action. The simple act of becoming more aware of our thoughts and the emotions they evoke puts us back in the driver’s seat of our actions. We don’t have to let subconscious thoughts and emotions cause us to act in ways that harm our leadership and our team.
Viktor Frankel was an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist who survived the horrors of the Holocaust. In his book Man’s Search for Meaning, he talks about emotional freedom:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.”
This is true freedom, true power, and true leadership: to be able to choose our attitude, or how we feel, about any situation. We can choose thoughts, emotions, and actions that benefit us and everyone around us, regardless of the circumstances. This ability will set you apart as a leader because regardless of your circumstances, you will experience the much deeper, more personal level of freedom: true emotional freedom.
To learn more from Meredith Turney and others, check out our LEAD Fellowship! Applications are now open for our Winter 2024 class through January 10, 2024.