Have you ever felt like your progress was being blocked, not just by your own circumstances, but by the presence and actions of others? This book explores the two kinds of freedom in our daily lives: freedom from obstacles versus freedom to take initiative and act.

About the Author vii About the Ontario Principals’ Council ix Acknowledgments xi Preface xiii 1 Freedom From or Freedom To 1 2 Simplexity as a Guide for Change 23 3 Autonomy and Cooperation 43 4 Feedback 65 5 Accountability 99 6 Diffusion 129 7 Your Own Best Freedom 153 References 165 Index 171

Tired of feeling frustrated and blocked, not just by your own circumstances, but by the actions of others? Freedom to Change releases you from the trap of constantly telling yourself that you’d be more successful if only others didn’t stand in your way. Written by bestselling author Michael Fullan, this engaging and often irreverent book explores the two kinds of freedom in our daily lives: freedom from obstacles versus freedom to take initiative and act. As Fullan explains, freedom from seemingly immovable barriers has no value in itself until it is partnered with an equally determined sense of what it is you truly want. What change would you like to bring about for yourself or those around you? To guide you on your journey to change, Fullan prescribes four dynamically interrelated actions: Seek the right balance between autonomy and cooperation with others; Improve the feedback exchange—give more valuable responses, as well as eliciting, hearing, and accepting feedback more effectively; Build accountability to others into the fabric of our working lives; and Find ways to influence others with the changes we’ve made and want to spread. These four actions are the guideposts for maximizing ‘freedom to change,’ and by navigating your way through them you’ll discover your own best freedom and fast-track your future. Filled with illustrative examples from the education, business, and nonprofit sectors, Freedom to Change offers recommendations for both individuals and organizations seeking to enhance connectedness and independence.