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.  

SAL Book: Structural Change vs. Individual Change

A thousand years from now, when historians and philosophers speak of the early twenty-first century in America, it is possible that the primary discussion will not will be about the brutal ideological battles that took place between liberals, conservatives, and moderates; nor will they be heralding the epic political struggles between democrats, republicans, and libertarians.


No. The real struggle of our age is not ultimately a political or ideological struggle; it is rather a tale of misplaced priorities—all of which are undergirded by the dreadfully mistaken notion that there really isn’t any real right or wrong outside of the mercurially unsteady inclinations of the individual.

While there are THREE basic kinds of people in our nation today, it is erroneous to merely categorize the three groups under simple monikers wrought from ponds of political parlance or the inclinations of ideological idiom. Rather, the three categories can be labeled thus:

1. Those who believe real, lasting societal change begins with purifying the minds and hearts of individuals.
2. Those who believe real, lasting societal change begins with purifying structures, systems, and organizations.
3. Those who are fundamentally selfish and therefore don’t care about anything that doesn’t directly impact themselves.

Those in the first group believe that a structure, system, or organization is nothing more than a synergized conglomeration of the individuals that make it up. Therefore, if you purify bad individuals (or purge them from the group) the group itself can begin to heal by virtue of good leadership, morally or otherwise.  The goal of this group is to change individuals, who are then empowered to bring about real and lasting changes in structures, systems, and organizations.  Their view is that if you change the individual, you empower change within the structures.

Those in the second group believe that the structure, system, or organization itself is where the real problem lies, and that if you could only get the larger entity right, then individual purification would naturally follow.  The goal of group two is to perfect systems, which, they believe, will then open up opportunities for individuals to purify themselves.  Their view is that if you change the systems, you empower the individual to change.  

Those residing in the third group don’t really believe in anything except that they themselves are more important than others, and that their desires and inclinations ought to be satiated at any cost. The good news is that in civilized societies, such parasites are usually in the minority. The bad news is that they are always a menacing nuisance to larger groups of which they are part. They produce untold sorrow in the hearts and minds of virtually everyone whose paths they cross. The worse news is that their numbers have been gradually multiplying throughout America since the end of World War II—when America reached its apex of selflessness at the conclusion of an epic war where Americans quite literally rescued the rest of the world from the throes of evil.

There are good people to be found in groups one and two, but only group one possesses the correct mindset for bringing about real, lasting change.  This is because structures, systems, and organizations are made up of individuals, not the other way around.  Macro systemic change without is therefore an outgrowth of micro individual changes within.  You cannot create real or lasting change within a macro system without first reforming its micro constituents--it's impossible; anyone who says otherwise is simply parroting the ideological, and I might add--quite popular--but ultimately erroneous rhetoric of group two.  This rhetoric is popular because it is easier.  Yes, it is much easier to look for and try to solve problems that are "out there" than it is to look for problems inside your own self, family, community, group, culture, etc.  

Despite the self-evident truism that individual change must precede lasting structural change, group two has grown to become both multitudinous and powerful throughout the United States in recent generations. In defense of group two, it is true that many of their leaders and acolytes are decent people who make legitimate points about changes that do indeed need to be made in structures, systems and organizations--most of which are rooted in regrettable past grievances.

The fundamental problem of our age, however, is that such a large sector of society really does believe the untenable myth that structural change prefaces individual change, which, in actuality, is a mathematical and scientific impossibility. You cannot change a structure or system without changing the individuals who make them up; nor can you cleanse a toxic environment without removing the poison that polluted it in the first place.  A box of apples that has begun to rot is not fixed by replacing the box; it is remedied by extricating the bad apples and replacing them with good ones.  It also involves washing off the residue of rot that has begun to rub off onto what good ones remain.

Over two thousand years ago, a man who claimed to be divine, and who dedicated His life to personal sanctification and purification—and then to teaching others to follow His example—both warned of and condemned those whom he called out as, “whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” [1]

I am no divine teacher. I am, however, a teacher. I therefore raise my voice in warning about the dangers of putting the proverbial "cart before the horse" by attempting to sanctify structures without first focusing on purifying—and when necessary purging an organization of—those individuals that form the base ingredient of all false, foul, and fiendish structures presently polluting our nation’s organizational systems, both public and private.

Iwo Jima monument

If America is to regain the national unity, honor, and influence it once held after leading the liberation of an entire Planet from a devil incarnate 70 years ago, the time has come to stop spending so much time complaining and crying about the filth of the outer vessel and begin directing our attention inwardly toward the errors engrossed in our own minds, hearts, attitudes, and behaviors.  It is the only pathway that will return us to greatness.

I do not disagree with nor disparage the good intentions of those seeking to change structures and systems when real problems persist therein.  Many structures and systems are flawed, and need to be revisited, revitalized, and reformed. I simply make an earnest appeal to common sense and natural law, which has, does, and always will demand individual change as the prefacing price of real and lasting organizational purification and change.  After all, won't we as change agents be able to better see what actually needs to change systemically once we are more structurally sound ourselves?  I would argue YES!

Let us therefore stop blaming structures, others, and the past for our problems—both individually and collectively. Let us begin instead to seize upon the power of the present and look deeply within ourselves to see where inner purification is needed. Again, in the words of the master teacher, who upbraided the "whited sepulchres" (who sought to stone the adulteress) with the most poignant of all possible rebukes: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.”[2]

Personal Change is often both difficult & painful

The process of personal purification can prove ponderously and perplexingly painful and problematic—and that is why we are all apt to avoid it so vociferously. It is so much easier to find something wrong with someone or something else than it is to humbly confess, "Yep, I'm part of the problem too."  An even more difficult admission is: "It's my responsibility to change." There are many highly intelligent people throughout our nation who have dedicated decorated careers to pointing out, calling out, and openly condemning the sins of others while completely ignoring their own.

Just the other evening I saw a famed professor from an even more famous University make this very mistake while speaking with the host of a well-known op-ed news program. The host was arguing for changing individuals and families while the professor countered with, “No, structures must be changed first.” With all due respect to the very smart professor; he is dead wrong, and the cultural malaise he seeks to remedy will only get worse until intelligent professors and leaders all over the nation STOP putting the cart before the horse and START teaching their folds that real change always, Always, ALWAYS begins within—not without.
 

I love my country. I am concerned about her present and future. After nearly three decades of careful research, observation, and experience, I have come to know both intellectually and viscerally that the best way to make America great again is to change myself—and then teach and influence others to do the same. We will never change systems and structures—must less societies and cultures—until we first change ourselves and shepherd our various flocks to do the same. 

Jordan R. Jensen, Ed.D.

I have dedicated my life and career to changing myself—and then teaching others to do likewise. If you’d like more information on how you can start this journey of self-change -- and of influencing those you lead to follow your example -- and thereby begin the difficult, but oh-so-rewarding process of bringing about real self-change that can, in-turn, improve your family, community, state, nation, and world by a factor of the only being you can actually control—YOURSELF—I invite you to subscribe to this blog and visit our website at...  www.freedomfocused.com 

Click HERE to read about Dr. Jordan Jensen's scholarly work, as well as his OWN painful journey toward self-purification and individual change, click HERE.    

[1] Matthew 23:27 (New Testament)
[2] John 8:7 (New Testament)