By William Carmichael
To be candid, the word ‘unapologetic’ in the sub title was a provocation for me. Like waving the proverbial red handkerchief in front of a bull, how dare the authors use such an enticing catch word! Enticing or not, Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You by Frances Frei and Anne Morriss is a must-read. It approaches the topic of leadership in today’s uncertain milieu from an entirely new perspective and does so with wit, candor, and an unflinching dose of reality. This is as a refreshing and honest look at leadership today that I have read in some time. And for those of us who dare to lead, it is a wake-up call.
It’s Not About You!
Very early in Unleashed, a startling reality took hold that was hauntingly accurate. Anyone who has ever spoken in front of an audience knows all too well the nervousness that can take hold and especially when we are new to making a presentation. And the reason? Somehow, we allow the presentation to be about us rather than about the message we want to present. This same foible can apply to us when we lose sight of the true purpose of why we wanted to lead others in the first place. Here is where years of teaching leaders how to become better leaders becomes so pertinent as authors Frei and Morriss explain the ten warning signs of how leaders simply “get in their own way” and the solutions they advise for eliminating self-distraction. Although we never like to look at our own faults, I will freely admit ownership to several of the signs presented! Another question our authors pose early in the book focuses on leadership as a perception. Yes, leadership does matter . . . but to whom? Here, Unleashed doesn’t pull any punches. It lays bare many misconceptions we as leaders have about ourselves. That maybe, just maybe, we are not as effective of a leader as we thought. Fortunately, Frie and Morriss also provide solutions. To quote our authors, “Again, leadership, at its core, isn’t about you. It’s about how effective you are at unleashing other people.”
The Absent Leader
Unleashed has an interesting dichotomy to it but with a singular message; that leadership must have a presence even when that leader is absent. True enough, strategy and culture does matter but so does trust, love, and belonging. This contrast is affirmed by our author’s practical definition of leadership as, “leadership is about empowering other people as a result of your presence- and making sure that impact continues into your absence.” Many examples of this are given throughout the book but none more impactful as trust, love, and belonging being a tangible leadership currency.
Frei and Morriss also offer a different worldview on leadership. They argue that popular leadership advice too often glosses over the most important thing we can do as a leader: build others up. Again, really effective leadership isn’t about you. It’s about how effective you are at empowering other people—and making sure this impact endures even in your absence. As Frei and Morriss show through inspiring stories from “ancient Rome to present-day Silicon Valley, the origins of great leadership are found, paradoxically, not worrying about your own status and advancement, but in the unrelenting focus on other people’s potential.” I was also intrigued by the author’s comments regarding the importance of leadership authenticity and organizational reliance upon best practices. Oh, by the way, the ‘unapologetic’ comment I opened with refers to defying those instinctive tendencies that make us less effective as leaders.
Structure and Layout
Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You contains four elements that make it an excellent read;
One, written in two parts, each of its six chapters purposefully stands on its own. By that, I mean there is much each topic has to teach us and not just as leaders, but as caring individuals. For example, in Chapter 2’s- Trust, Frei and Morriss discuss the phenomenon called the Common Informational Effect, which honestly, I was not familiar with but now can see its impactful relevance when building team dynamics. And in Chapter 4’s- Belonging, where our authors creatively review the four steps every Human Resource Professional, as well as organizational leader for that matter, should commit to.
Two, there is a logical flow of topics, ideas, suggestions, and diagrams that readers will appreciate. Also beneficial are the Questions for Reflection which conclude each chapter. And without all the technical jargon that can often render leadership books problematic, Unleashed contains sensible concept relevance and immediate application.
Three, the leadership problems discussed throughout the book quickly become real, relatable, and most importantly, resolvable with the action steps our authors make available.
Lastly, Frei and Morriss do not shy away from controversial subject-matter; the boss’s inappropriate humor, LGBT issues- commonly referred to as “queering” issues. Here, our authors make it very clear that being proactive has its advantages and that there are real solutions.
Who Will Benefit Most from This Book?
Organizational leaders and managers at all levels. Human Resource Professionals
About the authors:
Frances Frei is a professor at Harvard Business School. She recently served as Uber’s first senior vice president of leadership and strategy.
Ann Morriss is the executive founder of The Leadership Consortium, a leadership accelerator that works to build inclusive executive teams and elevate diverse leaders to senior leadership roles.
