How Much Freedom to Give Followers

Leaders/teachers should give followers/students greater freedom if they possess:

1. A relatively high need for independence
2. A readiness to assume responsibility for decision making
3. A relatively high tolerance for ambiguity
4. An interest in the problem/task and feel it is important
5. An understanding of and identity with the goals of the organization
6. The necessary knowledge and experience to deal with the problem/task
7. An expectation to share in the decision making

Students will be at varying levels which requires the teacher to differentiate his or her approach. Just as it would be inappropriate to restrict freedom of students who possess very high levels of each of these things, it would be ineffective to grant excessive freedom to students who possess very low levels. The key is in the evaluation and adaptation by the teacher. Students may say they want freedom, need independence, know what to do . . . but what does their behavior indicate?

The goal of the leader/teacher is to raise the level of each area for each student . . . to assist each student on the road of continual quality improvement where he or she will be ready to accept greater levels of freedom and responsibility. Differentiation is the key to making this happen.