1 Free to be
Being is the intentional act of creating possibilities, of creating something from nothing.
Nothing is what shapes being.
Being different today than we were yesterday
Life is an endless stream of possibilities.
This is what we are given, the chance to author ourselves in one way or another
All these possibilities exist only as potential, they are latent or unexpressed.
They have not been manifested and as yet have no existence.
Until we express one of these possibilities it does not exist.
Therefore there is nothing.
From nothing we create something; what we create is possibility.
We move through the world as a space of possibility
We have the choice at every moment whether to engage with life and create new possibilities or to withdraw from life
To the extent that you are a yes to life and create possibilities that is who you are being.
2 Free to create
Free to create means coming from nothing.
Thinking like an artist, standing in front of a blank canvas,
Without inference or preconceived ideas.
Being spontaneous capturing new ideas in the moment.
Seeing artistically is a skill we can all develop.
Sometimes this ability becomes clouded by old beliefs and experiences.
it simply requires of us to look again , to listen, to be aware, to trust,
to be present and to take responsibility for our interpretations,
and for our experience,
for creating alternatives, opportunities and possibilities.
When there is no gap between art and life people are in touch with their ability to create anything.
There is poetry as soon as we realise that we possess nothing.”
3 Free to achieve
Achieving means fulfilling your potential
Potential means the capacity for coming into being
Capacity expands or deflates in line with willingness
Your past does not predict your future
Your history does not determine your potential
At every moment you can author your potential into existence
The great leader refuses to relate to others
As their story but only as their potential
4. Free to Lead
There is a distinction between transactional leadership, which is about fulfilling the task, and transformational leadership, which is about fulfilling potential.
Fulfilling a task requires a set of skills.
Fulfilling potential requires the ability to make a difference.
This is the real skill of the 21st century leader: the ability to inspire others to realise their full potential.
The effective leader is invisible.
The effective leader derives success from repeatedly giving away power.
By power we mean the capacity to bring about change.
The leader gets to be great by bringing forth greatness in others.
This requires a generosity of spirit, a belief in the potential of others, and an authentic sense of self, such that success comes from within, and is not dependent on circumstances or the opinions of others.
5 Free to accomplish
Accomplishment is the art of generating results.
When we are willing to be responsible, to stop blaming others, or the circumstances in which we find ourselves, then we can really begin to generate results.
Accomplishment means to complete
When we are complete with ourselves
There is nothing we cannot accomplish
We don’t have to wait for others to change or for the situation to improve.
We don’t have to rely on our roles or job titles to get things done.
We don’t have to depend on what the past dictates is possible, or be tied to our habits.
We can literally begin to invent the future.
This is the essence of transformational leadership.
6 Free to choose
Choice is based on our perception of events and the meaning we give them
These are a result of our history and experience
People have a story – but they are not their story – people are multi-storied
They are not bound by their story
Not bound in the sense of predictability or probability
Not bound in the sense of direction
Not bound in the sense of destined
Not bound in the sense of limited or constrained
Not bound in the sense of doomed
Behind every story that is privileged in the foreground
There are other stories unnoticed in the background
The leader’s job is to let them appear
7 Free to play
Play is the source of innovation. It’s the spontaneous expression of life. Spontaneity is a universal expression of people’s freedom. When people feel free they speak, move, laugh or smile spontaneously. They are free to be themselves. Spontaneity is the quality of being and acting without constraint, fear, embarrassment or awkwardness.
Just for the fun of it is the intrinsic spirit of Play. It has no ulterior aim, no other goal. It is a must in life. Deprive anyone of play and you deprive them of the essential spirit of living.
