Foreword ix

Preface xiii

Section I Abundance Leadership

1 My Journey to Abundance Leadership 3

2 How Abundance Leaders Think 19

Looking for Explanations 19

Optimism 25

Three Other Fields That Inform Abundance Leadership 30

3 Four Meta-Competencies 43

Visioning for the Greater Good 48

Visibility 56

Self-Awareness 58

Managing Well 60

Section II Organizational Health and Abundance Leadership

4 Improving Your Organization’s Health 65

5 Macrolevers 69

Charrettes 69

Four-Day Workweek 73

Workspace Design 75

Managing by Circadian Rhythm 77

6 Microlevers: Small Tools for Big Change 87

The Gong 88

The Annual Donation: Collective Competition for the Greater Good 89

Public Agenda: Speak Up and Get Heard 90

Community Wall: Life Outside of Work 90

Snow Globes and Collective Memory 91

Facilitation Rotation 92

Dream List: Imagining Our Ideal World 92

Section III the How-to Manual

7 Visioning 99

Visioning 100

Creativity 107

8 Visibility 113

9 Self-Awareness 117

Reflection and Affect 121

Interpersonal Adeptness 135

Morality 140

Ego Control 141

10 Managing Well 145

Team Building 146

Communication 153

Protection 157

Decision-Making 163

Epilogue 169

Appendix A: Additional Resources 171

Appendix B: Organizational Development Bibliography 173

References 181

Acknowledgments 187

About the Author 189

Index 191

Praise for ABUNDANCE LEADERS

“Laura Freebairn-Smith has played an important role in my professional life and particularly shaped my perspective on strategic planning, as both a consultant and a colleague. How gratifying, then, to see that her book, Abundance Leaders, seamlessly combines her erudition, lived experience, and common sense. This volume stands as a fresh and uplifting resource for all those interested in learning more about leadership, whether they consider themselves aspiring, emerging, or established in their fields.”
—James Bundy, Elizabeth Parker Ware Dean, David Geffen School of Drama; Artistic Director, Yale Repertory Theatre

“Laura Freebairn-Smith is generous in sharing her personal journey, and academic and professional experience, about what makes good leaders tick. And thankfully Laura explains practical applications for those of us who strive to lead and live with abundance. Abundance Leaders: Creating Energy, Joy, and Productivity in an Unsettled World is a must-read and ready reference for those of us who aspire to ‘activate the energy of their internal cultures to achieve results for all 4 Ps—planet, people, profit, and purpose.’ ”
—Angela G. Powers, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

“For many years, Laura Freebairn-Smith has been deeply involved in organizational development here at Yale University, especially turning managers into leaders. And now, in this highly readable book, she shares her many ideas for all those who want to lead creatively and expansively. Blending an approach rooted in individual psychological skills with perspectives at the organizational level, Dr. Freebairn-Smith’s wisdom and experience are broadly applicable to all leaders in the public and private, nonprofit and for-profit sectors.”
—Peter Salovey, President and Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology, Yale University

“Abundance Leaders combines the rigors of academic research with the soul and self-examination required for leading in a fragile world. Freebairn-Smith guides leaders to use analytical thinking and interpersonal adeptness to achieve their organization’s purpose and a larger purpose—making the world better for all of us.”
—Barry Nalebuff, Milton Steinbach Professor, Yale School of Management, Author of Split the Pie

“Many believe that leadership is an inherited trait. That strong leaders are born, have command presence and a natural ability to lead. In truth, leadership is a skill shaped by many inputs. Abundance Leaders provides a compelling model for any organization seeking to build its leadership depth and for any individual pursuing their personal leadership journey. By unlocking the power of personal purpose with the thoughtful articulation of the energy created by leading from a position of abundance, Laura provides us all with a must-read management resource. I’ve had the benefit of seeing Laura’s work transform my organization and shape the leader I am today. I highly recommend this book as a go-to resource for the newly aspiring leader and institutional veteran.”
—Ramon Soto, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Northwell Health

"Laura Freebairn-Smith has played an important role in my professional life and particularly shaped my perspective on strategic planning, as both a consultant and a colleague. How gratifying, then, to see that her book, Abundance Leaders, seamlessly combines her erudition, lived experience, and common sense. This volume stands as a fresh and uplifting resource for all those interested in learning more about leadership, whether they consider themselves aspiring, emerging, or established in their fields."
—James Bundy, Elizabeth Parker Ware Dean, David Geffen School of Drama and Artistic Director, Yale Repertory Theatre

"Laura Freebairn-Smith is generous in sharing her personal journey, and academic and professional experience, about what makes good leaders tick. And thankfully Laura explains practical applications for those of us who strive to lead and live with abundance. Abundance Leaders: Creating Energy, Joy, and Productivity in an Unsettled World is a must read and ready reference for those of us who aspire to "activate the energy of their internal cultures to achieve results for all 4 Ps (planet, people, profit, and purpose.)"
—Angela G. Powers, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven

"For many years, Laura Freebairn-Smith has been deeply involved in organizational development here at Yale University, especially turning managers into leaders. And now, in this highly readable book, she shares her many ideas for all those who want to lead creatively and expansively. Blending an approach rooted in individual psychological skills with perspectives at the organizational level, Dr. Freebairn-Smith's wisdom and experience are broadly applicable to all leaders in the public and private, non-profit and for-profit sectors."
—Peter Salovey, President and Chris Argyris Professor of Psychology, Yale University

"Abundance Leaders combines the rigors of academic research with the soul and self-examination required for leading in a fragile world. Freebairn-Smith guides leaders to use analytical thinking and interpersonal adeptness to achieve their organization's purpose and a larger purpose—making the world better for all of us."
—Barry Nalebuff, Milton Steinbach Professor, Yale School of Management and author of Split the Pie

"Many believe that leadership is an inherited trait. That strong leaders are born, have command presence and a natural ability to lead. In truth, leadership is a skill shaped by many inputs. Abundance Leaders provides a compelling model for any organization seeking to build its leadership depth and for any individual pursuing their personal leadership journey. By unlocking the power of personal purpose with the thoughtful articulation of the energy created by leading from a position of abundance, Laura provides us all with a must-read management resource. I've had the benefit of seeing Laura's work transform my organization and shape the leader I am today. I highly recommend this book as a go-to resource for the newly aspiring leader and institutional veteran."
—Ramon Soto, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Northwell Health

We have all heard of the idea that our perception creates our reality, but how many of us understand what that really means or, more importantly, put it into practice? In times of scarcity, leaders are tempted to echo society’s often negative, fear-based messaging, falling into step with the notion that we do not have the power to make things better. Abundance Leaders turns this tendency on its head, showing that organizations have great power in driving culture and determining daily reality. When leaders project energy, joy, productivity, and optimism, they create abundance. Sounds simple but it takes intention and practice.

What makes some leaders better at leading from abundance than others? It all starts with a mindset. Author and leading management consultant Laura Freebairn-Smith calls this mindset the abundance mental model. When we learn to see resources as sufficient and non-zero-sum power dynamics, we create healthier, more equitable organizations. In this book, readers learn how to build communication, teamwork, and energy into the fabric of their organization by adopting the 26 specific behaviors that constitute abundance leadership.

There are dozens if not hundreds of leadership models in print today, but not one has adequately captured what truly makes a great boss. Abundance Leaders finally offers a new model, along with a set of research-based principles for adopting it. This new concept in leadership is poised to transform the way we view organizational culture, strategy, and change. This book reveals that true leadership greatness does not lie in the broad strokes and huge undertakings that we often associate with it. Instead, It is the small, daily acts and minor adjustments that inspire employees and bring visions to life.