Do you believe it’s possible to have fun – and feel free – as the leader of a team or organization? 

“Really?" "In these challenging times?"  "You can’t be serious."  "Tell me more.”

These are the responses I get when I share with my clients that it’s truly possible to have fun and experience freedom as a leader. So many leaders attempt to carry the full weight of the organization on their shoulders. They're dedicated to serving all stakeholders -- and too often believe the success of the team or organization is their sole responsibility.

While as a leader, you do have an important role to play, it isn’t possible for you to create success by yourself. Even solopreneurs rely on others to help them build a successful business. When you believe the organization's success is entirely your responsibility, you set yourself up for stress and burnout. It’s a mindset that leaves no room for fun or freedom.

While fun and freedom mean something different to each person, I’ve discovered that leaders who value both often do these five things well:

Champion the Vision
This is the leader’s primary role. Over and over again the leader shares, nurtures and elevates the vision. In his book, Making Vision Stick, Andy Stanley discusses the challenges of staying true to the vision. According to Stanley, the most important feature of a well-crafted vision is simplicity.

A simple, inspiring vision gives the leader the freedom to be creative and have fun in how he or she champions the vision. If your organization’s vision is difficult to understand and you don’t have the power to change it, find a way to simplify it for those you lead.

Align Strengths and Enjoyment with Tasks
 As a leader, it's important to be aware of your own strengths and what you like to do -- then leverage that knowledge to benefit the organization. The same goes for those you lead. Find out what people are good at and what they enjoy doing -- and, as much as possible, create alignment.

Aligning strengths and enjoyment with tasks allows people to “play in their own space.” There’s nothing more fun and freeing than doing the things you are good at -- and enjoy.

Trust the Process
Let’s face it, not all projects will go as planned. There will be glitches and outright failures. This can either be a frustration -- keeping you and your team stuck in negative energy -- or a catalyst for learning and growth.

Leaders who set a tone of excellence through learning and mastery create an environment where fun and freedom are a part of the process.

Celebrate Successes
You acquired a new client, completed a major project, achieved a level of superior performance, or simply have an opportunity to recognize effort and determination. How often do you celebrate these moments? Research suggests that recognition is a top motivator for people -- and one of the most desired elements in the workplace.

Celebration is a fun way to recognize people -- and fuels the freedom and incentive to focus on future successes. After all, as the saying goes, “You get more of what you focus on.” Focus on successes and you’ll get more of them.

Create Community
Human beings are hard-wired for community. Ann Bahr Thompson, who studies the relationship between culture and brands, writes in Harvard Business Review:  “A sense of ‘belonging’ and working in a culture that mirrors our values has always strengthened employee engagement (the ‘us’ proposition).” Creating community is all about fun and freedom.

I know a leader who brings his dog to work and the entire staff delights in taking care of him. Other leaders regularly take their staffs on a fun outing or participate in community activities. This kind of effort creates a bond that results in greater commitment to the work of the organization and more effective teamwork.

Leaders can’t do it all themselves. In fact, their role is to get things done through others.
Why not have fun and experience freedom in the process?

I’d love to hear ways you’ve discovered how to do that in your leadership role.

  About the Author

Gayle Ely is a Leadership Coach, Trainer and Facilitator who believes Passionate Leadership can change the world. She works with business and non-profit leaders and service entrepreneurs to help them perform more effectively so they and their businesses can thrive.

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