Freedom, Inc.: How Corporate Liberation Unleashes Employee Potential and Business Performance by Isaac Getz, Brian M. Carney

Sometimes the most innovative, field-changing ideas come forth completely outside the expected. Take, for example, the concept of corporate liberation as explored in the book “Freedom Inc.: How Corporate Liberation Unleashes Employee Potential and Business Performance” by Isaac Getz. Getz challenges the traditional notion of corporate structure and suggests something entirely different—a concept which if embraced and executed, could have a tremendous impact on employee engagement, business performance and in the larger sense, organizational culture.

The traditional approach to management, where decisions are made at the top and handed down to employees, can no longer meet the demands of the current marketplace, according to Getz. His concept of corporate liberation is a radical departure from the notion of top-down traditional corporate structure.

At the heart of the concept of corporate liberation, Getz explains, is the belief that trust, respect, and freedom are the essential elements of success. He outlines four key principles of corporate liberation, which are: (1) managers must focus their attention on people rather than their own power; (2) decisions should be shared between teams, not imposed by management; (3) processes should be designed with people and interactions in mind rather than solely results; and (4) a company must be organized without hierarchy and without bureaucracy.

By freeing employees from the constraints of typical organizational structures, they gain increased autonomy and leverage to use their natural abilities to find creative solutions to challenges. A corporate culture of liberation encourages collaboration and teamwork, making employees even more engaged and invested in the process. Getz argues that the types of success stories that are the hallmarks of the most successful organizations, such as Southwest and Pixar, all have one thing in common—they embrace the principles of corporate liberation.

With this in mind, Getz outlines how organizations can embrace the principles of corporate liberation. He suggests creating an environment to support collaboration by introducing a “rules of engagement” list that outlines standards for communication. Teams should strive to be as self-directed as possible and should handle grievances without the intervention of management.

The book also offers insight into how corporate liberation can be used to unleash corporate potential, particularly in the area of performance management. Getz outlines elements of performance management structures and processes that are essential to create the right kind of atmosphere. He cites multiple examples of successful companies that have embraced the concept of corporate liberation and how this has helped to increase innovation, efficiency, and creativity.

Ultimately, corporate liberation is a concept that has the potential to change how companies are organized and managed with a profound impact on business performance and employee engagement. Getz explains the ideals and principles of corporate liberation, followed by actionable steps on how organizations can embrace the principles of corporate liberation and unlock their business potential. The corporate liberation conversation is a revolutionary development in the way that organizations think about leadership, decision-making, and performance management. Getz’s book “Freedom, Inc.: How Corporate Liberation Unleashes Employee Potential and Business Performance” is an essential read for anyone interested in organizational culture, leadership, and performance.