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Original Essays | April 30, 2013
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More copies of this ISBNFreedom, Inc.: Free Your Employees and Let Them Lead Your Business to Higher Productivity, Profits, and Growthby Brian M. Carney
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:Free to succeed . . .
Whether in troubled economic times or during years of prosperity, there is a proven way for companies to boost productivity, profits, and growth. Remarkably, it costs nothing––whether cost is measured in terms of monetary resources or time– –and is simply based on the belief that, if only people can be free to act in the best interests of their company, the results will be tremendous. Freedom, Inc. presents the evidence that this is not the Pollyannaish wish of a few dreamers, but a reality built by bottom-line-focused leaders. . . . The culture of freedom works–and Freedom, Inc. reveals the secrets of a successful business paradigm based on a trusting, nonhierarchical, liberated environment. The visionary leaders profiled here performed near-miracles in driving their companies to unheard-of levels of success, often from unlikely or disheartening beginnings. Businesses as diverse as insurance company USAA, winemaker Sea Smoke Cellars, Gore & Associates, advertising agency The Richardson Group, Harley-Davidson, and Sun Hydraulics have had the insight and courage to challenge long-held management beliefs about human nature and employees–and radically depart from the traditional command-and-control structures, rules, and policies. By freeing up the individual initiative and risk-taking instincts of every employee, these companies showed they could dramatically outperform their rivals in an array of fiercely competitive industries. By listening to employees instead of telling them what to do, by treating them as equals and not limiting information through a trickle-down hierarchy, and by encouraging a culture in which employees have commitments (something chosen) as opposed to jobs (something imposed), these companies liberated their workers to fulfill their own individual potential, which has led to more productive, loyal, and engaged workers, as well as significant measurable profits and growth. Review:"The key to a successful business is affording your employees more breathing room, claim journalist Carney and management professor Getz. Using examples of worker-centric companies countrywide, they make the case that the more freedom employees are given, the more rewards the company will reap. Starting with the history of workplaces — Thomas Jefferson's theories figure prominently — and a plethora of stories of such successful companies as FAVI, USAA, Vertex and Harley, the authors concentrate heavily on the importance of running a 'why' company — making sure employees know why they're doing what they're doing — rather than a 'how' company, in which employers instruct their employees on how to do their jobs. Much space is given to the art of listening to employees, building an environment that allows them to grow and self-direct, breaking away from hierarchical and bureaucratic corporate structure, treating workers as equals and motivating them to self-motivation. Worthy prescriptions all, but without the backing of wide-reaching data or larger vision, repetition replaces argument — and the whole suffers." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
Book News Annotation:The authors recommend a radical departure from the traditional command-and-control structures and policies often found in the business world: setting employees free to use their initiative and risk-taking instincts in a trusting, nonhierarchical environment. In order to prove that liberated workers lead to measurable increases in profits, the authors offer profiles of visionary leaders at real companies such as Harley-Davidson. Carney is editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. Getz is affiliated with the ESCP Europe Business School. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Synopsis:For troubled economic times comes a fascinating account of the remarkable, no-cost, highly effective way to boost productivity, profits, and growth, based on an on-the-ground investigation of leaders who give employees the leeway to take the steps that they--not their bosses--decide are best.
About the AuthorBRIAN M. CARNEY is a London-based member of the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal and the editorial page editor of the Wall Street Journal Europe. In 2009 he won the prestigious Gerald Loeb Award for Commentary, and in 2003 he won the Bastiat Prize for Journalism for his writings on business and economic affairs. After majoring in philosophy at Yale, he earned a masters degree in philosophy from Boston University and worked at the Innovations in American Government program at Harvard University before joining the Wall Street Journal in 2000.
ISAAC GETZ is a professor at the top-ranked ESCP Europe Business School and holds Ph.D.s in psychology and management. He has been a visiting professor at Cornell, Stanford, and the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Getz conducts and publishes research on innovation, leadership, and corporate transformation for excellence and growth and speaks on these topics. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, and many other media. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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