Freedom. It’s one of those things of which we’re mostly not consciously aware. We’re living our lives and doing our jobs, not always realizing its priceless value.

But what exactly is freedom to you? Is it not being suppressed, being allowed to say what you want to say, or making your own choices?

Everybody knows that freedom at work is a valued work condition. Just think about how it is for you, if your manager would keep telling you what to do when and how, instead of making you responsible for your own output and results. Most stress at work is experienced when people cannot influence what to work on, how and when.

How it works for me? I get demotivated and laid back.We’re all having our own reactions.

Freedom is a source for creativity and true accountability and is boosting performance.  

Find out how freedom at work will be elevating your own, as well as your team’s, performance:

1. Freedom needs a framework first.

This may sound contradictory, but we all know that chaos is the result when working without scope. This requires leadership. You’ll need to

• Craft a vision
• Share values and principles
• Include relevant legal regulations; e.g. Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP)
• Give clarity in tasks and responsibilities
• Work with well-defined objectives with realistic timelines.

2. Be committed but not attached.

Don’t take life too seriously, see it as a game. It enables you to relax and to enjoy the process. It’s a prerequisite for the next step.

3. Let go the control on how challenges are addressed once the framework has been defined.

Coach your team members on what they really need to fulfill the objectives, not on what you think what the result should be. You’ll probably be surprised by the high quality ideas and solutions. Freedom transforms the “wait and see” attitude into true ownership.

I would love to work with such a manager, wouldn’t you? It’s simple! Just be the manager your team needs most. You may want to ask yourself some of the following questions:

• What do I value most about freedom at work
• What’s holding me back?
• How do I want to be seen by the team members?
• What do they need?

Let me know how you value freedom by leaving a comment, I’d love to hear.