Self-Action Leadership Training for EDUCATORS

For generations, educators desiring to teach LEADERSHIP,  CHARACTER, and LIFE-SKILL EDUCATION have faced the dilemma of lacking a comprehensive, cogent resource.

The purpose of this article is to introduce a new SELF-LEADERSHIP TEXTBOOK that provides a seminal solution to this dilemma.

This groundbreaking resource provides teachers, coaches, principals, superintendents, and any other educators with a goldmine of information whereby they can further prepare their students for real life and empower their future success beyond mere academic instruction.  

This new resource is called, SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP: The Key to Personal Professional, & Global Freedom, and it is changing the way educators think about leadership, character, and life-skill instruction and education generally speaking.

In the earliest days of our Republic, students' primary textbook was The Holy Bible.  The reason for this was not merely that books in general were hard to come by.  It was also because our Pilgrim Mothers and Fathers were by-and-large humble, God-fearing individuals who sought not only the knowledge to do things right in their trade, but also the courage and conviction to do the right things in their communities, homes, and personal lives as well.

Over the decades and centuries that followed, education in America became increasingly secular.  This trend was not all bad.  It did, however, carry a negative by-product—the gradual diminishment, and in some cases eradication, of principle-based leadership, character, and life-skills education.  This did not have to be the case; it was not inevitable; but nonetheless, it is what has happened.

How can educators remedy this problem, especially in light of the tremendous pressure they already face from external stakeholders (viz. State accountability measures) to "teach to the test" and meet a variety of other demands?  The answer to this question is simple, but not easy.  It will require educators to engage in deep introspection and invest an indomitable willingness to evolve and exercise transformational leadership and creativity within the confines of their own spheres of influence.  

C.S. Lewis, that venerable Christian author, once pointed out that authentic progress in any arena, including the resolution of past mistakes, can only be achieved in one way.

"We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turn, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man. We have all seen this when doing arithmetic. When I have started a sum the wrong way, the sooner I admit this and go back and start again, the faster I shall get on. There is nothing progressive about being pig headed and refusing to admit a mistake. … Going back is the quickest way on." [1]

Please do not misunderstand.  I am NOT suggesting we bring back The Holy Bible as the primary text in our nation's public schools.  I believe our Founding Fathers exercised great wisdom when they established a separation of Church and State in the public schools and governing bodies of our nation.  I am, however, stating what many educators all over the country already know to be true: that we often fail our children by providing a pedagogy entirely bereft of that special variety of instruction designed to prepare our youth with essential life-skills, empower them to become principle-centered leaders, and most importantly, promote and educate the conscience.

For any and all educators who seek a high-quality, non-denominational, secular, textbook that teaches leadership, character, good citizenship, and life-skills, look no further.  The guide you seek after has now been written and published.  It is called, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.

Click HERE to see the Self-Action Leadership textbook and read an extended SAMPLE on NOOK

Self-Action Leadership not only outlines a rich academically textured theory and model replete with wisdom from around the world and throughout the ages, it also comes garnished and seasoned with penetrating real-life anecdotes from the lives of successful leaders and educators who have "walked the talk" in their own classrooms, schools, and individual lives.

From my own classroom to elementary, middle, and high schools in the State of Georgia, teachers' and principals' own stories of success are richly highlighted in Book the Fourth—the fourth of five books within the text.

The other four sections of the book include Book the First, which heralds the importance of patriotism and attending to the civic duties that each individual holds to one's community, state, and nation.  Books the Second and Third (sections two & three) outline the Self-Action Leadership—or SAL—Theory and Model.  Finally, Book the Last (section five) provides additional insight into how to successfully implement the SAL Theory and Model into one's individual life—and then model and teach it to others.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.

After all the talk about the importance of inculcating leadership, character, and life-skill education into the minds and hearts of our children, a uniformed, comprehensive, self-leadership TEXTBOOK has finally been written to walk this talk.

If you are an educator, all you have to do now is get the book, read it, and then begin to formulate your own creative plans regarding how you can most effectively utilize the book as a resource in your own classroom or school.

In the meantime, listen to what other educators are already saying about this groundbreaking contribution to leadership and character education in America:

Dr. David Anthony in front of the Texas State Capitol in Austin

“Reading this book may be the most worthwhile thing you do this year. I hope the message of Self-Action Leadership makes its way into the minds and hearts of students, parents, and business professionals everywhere. Its presence in the literature is a service to our Country."   

David G. Anthony, Ed.D.

CEO of Raise Your Hand Texas and former Superintendent of the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District – Houston, TX  – one of the Top 25 Largest School Districts in America

Click HERE to read Dr. Anthony's Afterword to Self-Action Leadership

"Any student would benefit from the principles of Self-Action Leadership that Jordan Jensen teaches. Unfortunately, too many young people today don't learn these principles in their homes. If they don't pick them up somewhere, they are at a disadvantage in life." 

Joseph N. Jensen, M.A. (Ed.D. pending)
Principal, Orem Junior High School, Orem, Utah

To read about the remarkable progress Principal Jensen has made with his own staff and students by implicitly applying SAL-oriented principles, click HERE.

“As a high school English teacher who also facilitates a Student Leadership class, I was thrilled to learn about this insightful guide to self-leadership that can be used as a resource in classes just like mine. Thank you Jordan! As an educator, it is encouraging to know there are people out there like Dr. Jensen who are working hard to support administrators, teachers, parents, and students alike. I am confident the message of Self-Action Leadership will help to provide the guidance our youth so desperately need to become effective self-leaders and productive members of society.” 

Shannon Lindholm
High School Teacher, Magnolia, Texas  

"Dr. Jensen, through his experience teaching, brings to light the importance of teaching leadership and character inside the classroom. Teachers will feel empowered to impact youth outside of prescribed curriculum through an understanding of Self-Action Leadership."

James Fraser
High School Teacher; Conroe, Texas

To buy a copy of Self-Action Leadership, click HERE.

Click HERE to view Dr. Jordan Jensen's Complete 1-hour Self-Action Leadership Seminar for FREE

Click HERE to view Dr. Jordan Jensen's groundbreaking speech entitled, A Twenty-First Century Vision of Education in America.

To sign up for our Self-Action Leadership Blog, add your e-mail address in the white "Follow By Email" box on the right hand side of this webpage.

Dr. Jordan Jensen
Master Facilitator

The opportunity is now here to bring explicit SAL training to YOUR classroom or school.  This opportunity includes the possibility of revolutionizing, or at least evolutionizing, your student body into pathways of holistic personal growth and progress that will produce quantum leaps in the long-term success of your bottom line—the extent to which your students become happy, healthy, contributing civic-minded members of society.

SAL Training is the training of the future.  It is training for the organizational soul.  It is the silver bullet to long-term success.

To read about one leader, Joe Jensen's, successful, implicit use of SAL principles and practices in leading his team to extraordinary, even outlying, results, click HERE.

If you are a Superintendent, Principal, Teacher, or Coach and are thinking about brining SAL training to your classroom, school, or district, where do you start?

Simple... just call us at 832-618-5451, or e-mail us at jordan.jensen@freedomfocused.com, and we will provide you with a free consultation to discover which SAL training would be right for you.

SAL trainings are deliverable in five different time frames.  Additional consulting services and a variety of related soft skills training options are also available upon request.

2-hour     ~   Introduction to SAL*

Half-day  ~  Abridged SAL training*

Full-day  ~   Abridged SAL training*

Two-day  ~  Abridged SAL training*   

Four-day  ~  Full SAL training* 

*All SAL trainings include a copy of Dr. Jensen's new book: Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom, seen below...

Notes:

[1] Lewis, C. S. (2001). Mere Christianity. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco. Pages 28-29.

Note: This article is one of SIX articles in a special series dedicated to different AUDIENCES that Freedom Focused specifically targets with Self-Action Leadership training. We invite leaders and managers of these different audiences to click on links below to read the articles pertaining to your field or constituency.

Click HERE to access article for  BUSINESS PROFESSIONALS (Leaders, Managers, & Workers)

Click HERE to access article for  EDUCATORS  (Administrators, Teachers, & Staff)

Click HERE to access article for  STUDENTS & INDIVIDUALS

Click HERE to access article for PARENTS & FAMILIES

Click HERE to access article for ELECTED OFFICIALS, LEADERS, & ROLE MODELS

Click HERE to access article for PERSONS dealing with MENTAL ILLNESS

Self-Action Leadership  ~  The Book

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP is the key catalyst for initiating transformational leadership that lasts in any classroom, school, or district. The truth of the matter really is that simple; and the transformation of organizations through the holistic development of individuals really is that difficult—yet altogether possible for anyone willing to invest the time, effort, and sacrifice required to achieve authentic, transformational results.


Unlike any training program that has ever preceded it, Self-Action Leadership provides a single vehicle wherewith individual self-leaders can discover—and then act—upon the great truth that HOLISTIC personal development and growth spanning the mental, moral, spiritual, physical, emotional, and social elements of our individual natures is within the grasp of each one of us.

Back Cover of Self-Action Leadership, the Book

Note: Freedom Focused is a non-partisan, for-profit, educational corporation.  As such, we do not endorse or embrace political figures.  We do, however, comment from time-to-time on historical or political events that provide pedagogical backdrops to illuminating principles contained in the SAL Theory & Model.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.

To receive weekly articles from Freedom Focused & Dr. Jordan R. Jensen, sign up with your e-mail address in the white box on the right side of this page where it says "Follow by E-mail."

Click HERE to buy a copy of Dr. Jordan Jensen's new book, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.

Click HERE to read more about Dr. Jensen's book, Self-Action Leadership, and to review what experts in the leadership field are saying about this groundbreaking new personal development handbook.

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan R. Jensen.  Click HERE to visit the Freedom Focused website.

The Practical Function of Self-Action Leadership Training

Great organizations are built one quality person at a time

Organizations, no matter how large or small, are nothing more than macro conglomerations of the micro individuals who work, manage, and lead within each community, company, school, home, et cetera.

If your people are incompetent, your organization will eventually fail.  If your ranks are rife with duplicity or one-upsmanship, you'll have a shifty company assembled atop a faulty foundation.  If your folks are fundamentally lazy or unmotivated, your group will underperform itself into expendability and oblivion.  If your entity lacks correct, principle-centered leadership at its helm, then the bow, bay, bilge, aft, and stern will never realize its greatest possibilities—no matter how great each person's individual potential may be.

It ALL begins with the ONE

On the other hand, if you have highly capable people, your organization will be productive and profitable.  If your rolls are ripe with integrity, your company will be built to last—because it has a firm foundation.  If disciplined hard work and determination carries the day, your group's status as elite warriors and champions of your industry is assured.  And if your entity is well led by leaders who exemplify and champion correct principles, your success is guaranteed.

The Practical Function of Self-Action Leadership Training is to TRANSFORM nations, communities, companies, schools, and homes into world-class performing organizations through the holistic DEVELOPMENT of the individuals that make them up as well as the LEADERS who guide them.  It all starts with the one—with you, and with me.  In the end, efficacious Self-Action Leadership and the correct principle centered Leadership it inspires are the indispensable ingredients to great organizations that are productive, prosperous, and built-to-last.

World-renown leadership expert James G.S. Clawson, Ph.D., of the Darden School of Business Administration (University of Virginia), underscored this point toward the end of a decorated academic career when he wrote:

"I have come to believe that one of the biggest leadership issues [throughout the World today] is the inability of people – even and especially managers and executives – to lead themselves." [1]

Note: Dr. James G.S. Clawson is a Professor Emeritus at the Darden Graduate School of Business at The University of Virginia.  Dr. Clawson's academic career includes authoring 17 manuscripts and the writing or supervision of over 300 cases.  He is the author of the famous classroom textbook, Level Three Leadership. 

And the good news is that Self-Action Leadership is not reserved only for leaders, managers, or top-tiers performers.  In the words of Dr. Charles C. Manz—the Father of self-leadership in the academe—and the esteemed Nirenberg Professor of Leadership at the University of Massachussetts:

"Effective self-leadership can be learned … [It] is not restricted to people we describe as “self-starters,” “self-directed,” “self-motivated,” etc.… Self-leadership approach[es] are relevant to managers and nonmanagers—that is, to anyone who works." [2]

Note: Dr. Charles C. Manz is an acclaimed author, speaker, and researcher who has published over 200 articles and scholarly papers and 20 books.  He has done consulting work for Zerox, GM, the Mayo Clinic, Motorola, 3M, American Express and others.  He is a recipient of the Harvard Business School's prestigious Marvin Bower Fellowship that is "awarded for outstanding achievement in research and productivity, influence, and leadership in business scholarship."

Self-Action Leadership  ~  The Book

SELF-ACTION LEADERSHIP is the key catalyst for initiating transformational leadership that lasts in any organization.  The truth of the matter really is that simple; and the transformation of organizations through the holistic development of individuals really is that difficult—yet altogether possible for anyone willing to invest the time, effort, and sacrifice required to achieve authentic, transformational results.

Unlike any training program that has ever preceded it, Self-Action Leadership provides a single vehicle wherewith individual self-leaders can discover—and then act—upon the great truth that HOLISTIC personal development and growth spanning the mental, moral, spiritual, physical, emotional, and social elements of our individual natures is within the grasp of each one of us.

Perhaps Dr. Christopher P. Neck, an Associate Professor at Arizona State University said it best when he wrote:

"Dr. Jensen has accomplished a task that is very difficult for any author or scholar to achieve, and that is to produce a Theory and Model and write a book that is highly relevant to multiple audiences at the same time.   

"Because of the universal applicability of basic self-leadership principles, his message is germane to civic leaders, business professionals and workers of all kinds, educators, students, athletes, parents, and children—in short, to everyone.  Indeed, I do believe that everyone who participates in SAL Training or reads Dr. Jensen's book will be able to access a unique and vital set of tools that can potentially transform their personal and professional performance and life.  I am amazed at Jordan’s achievement in developing a single Theory and Model and authoring a single book that carries the potential to reach such a wide variety of people—and that is the beauty of it. 

"Dr. Jensen's book and the SAL training that accompanies it will do much more than just teach you about Self-Action Leadership.  It will cause you to think deeply about how you are currently living your own life and directing your own career.  It will illuminate ways that you could better lead yourself to achieve the results you most desire in the long-run. 

"More importantly, Jensen’s compelling story and courageous personal example, combined with his percipient ability to effectively teach the corresponding self-leadership principles, will inspire and motivate you to actually do something about what you will learn.  In the process, it might even touch emotions in your heart that will move you to joy and tears.  It takes a talented teacher and writer to do all of these things, so I know you’ll enjoy participating in SAL training and reading Dr. Jensen's book.  More importantly, I know you’ll come away a wiser person with an increased motivation to begin taking action to realize your own Self-Action Leadership potential, an opportunity we can all take full advantage of, if only we will." [3]

Note: Christopher P. Neck, Ph.D. is an illustrious academic who has published prolifically (scholarly articles, academic textbooks, books, book chapters, etc.).  He is also a highly esteemed and decorated instructor who has received numerous awards for classroom teaching.  His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Psychology Today, Fortune, and Fast Company.  He has also done professional training for GE/Toshiba, Prudential Life Insurance, Dillards, U.S. Airways, The U.S. Army, Crestar, American Family Insurance, and others.    

Upcoming blog articles are going to feature the SEVEN (7) different AUDIENCES that Self-Action Leadership training specifically targets.  We invite leaders and managers of these different audiences to tune in to their respective, upcoming article for more information about why SAL training is the most important message you could possibly provide to your managers, staffs, and employees.  These articles will be published in order, as follows...

Wednesday, February 24, 2016   ~  Business Professionals  (Leaders, Managers, & Workers)

Wednesday, March 2, 2016  ~  Educators  (Administrators, Teachers, and Support Staff)

Wednesday, March 9, 2016  ~  Students of All Ages

Wednesday, March 16, 2016  ~  Parents & Families

Wednesday, March 23, 2016  ~  Individuals  

Wednesday, March 30, 2016  ~  Elected Officials & other high profile Leaders & Role Models

Wednesday, April 6, 2016  ~  Persons dealing with mental illness

Back Cover of Self-Action Leadership, the Book

Note: Freedom Focused is a non-partisan, for-profit, educational corporation.  As such, we do not endorse or embrace political figures.  We do, however, comment from time-to-time on historical or political events that provide pedagogical backdrops to illuminating principles contained in the SAL Theory & Model.

Click HERE to learn more about the SAL Theory & Model.

To receive weekly articles from Freedom Focused & Dr. Jordan R. Jensen, sign up with your e-mail address in the white box on the right side of this page where it says "Follow by E-mail."

Click HERE to buy a copy of Dr. Jordan Jensen's new book, Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.

Click HERE to read more about Dr. Jensen's book, Self-Action Leadership, and to review what experts in the leadership field are saying about this groundbreaking new personal development handbook.

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Jordan R. Jensen.  Click HERE to visit the Freedom Focused website.

Notes:

[1] Clawson, J. G. S. (2008). Leadership As Managing Energy. International Journal of Organizational Analysis. Volume 16, Issue 3. p. 174-181. DOI:10.1108/19348830810937943. Page 175.
[2] Manz, C. C. (1983). Improving Performance Through Self-Seadership. National Productivity Review (pre-1986). Volume 2, Issue 3. p. 288-297. Page 289. 
[3] Paraphrased quote of Dr. Neck from his foreword to Self-Action Leadership: The Key to Personal, Professional, & Global Freedom.  J.Jensen (2015). Bloomington, IN: authorHouse Publishing.