Leadership can play a huge role in determining the trajectory and success of a venture. A new, transformative paradigm has emerged, one that when adopted can change your entire life for the better – conscious leadership.
Conscious leadership goes beyond the bounds of traditional leadership models and asserts self-awareness, empathy, authenticity, and ethical decision-making play huge roles in effective leadership. Conscious leaders recognize the profound impact their actions have on the well-being of their team members, stakeholders, and the world at large.
What is conscious leadership?
Conscious leadership is not about business strategies and charts; it’s about a profound connection to the essence of human existence.
Conscious leadership dares to ask the question: “What about the heart and the soul of it all?” in a corporate landscape that’s often focused on profit and bottom lines. Conscious leaders not only focus on achieving organizational goals, but also deeply care about the well-being and development of the individuals they lead, the organization they contribute to, and society as a whole.
You can lead from a place of inner wisdom, a place that acknowledges the human emotions and experiences that are inherently a part of our daily lives. Conscious leadership recognizes team members are human beings, not just cogs in a machine…intricate beings with their own struggles and triumphs.
This leadership style isn’t about being the loudest voice in the room or the one with all the answers.
No, it’s about listening, truly listening, and understanding.
Embracing vulnerability, owning your imperfections, and revealing your humanity are powerful aspects of conscious leadership because it’s in these moments of authenticity that you connect with others on a profound level, forging bonds that transcend the superficial and lead to success.
Conscious leadership requires a healthy dose of self-awareness. Your weaknesses don’t have to be ignored because growth doesn’t come from denying your flaws, but from embracing them, learning from them, and letting them play a part in your journey. It’s about leading with compassion, not just for others but for ourselves, because a leader who can’t be kind to their own soul can’t possibly extend that kindness to their team.
This type of leadership guides others through uncertainty because conscious leadership invites us to think about business in different ways, explore uncharted territories, be curious, innovate, and create with a sense of purpose.
It’s the ability to inspire, not through force or authority, but by inciting passion and higher purpose within those you lead through your own example.
It’s a path less traveled, one that requires courage and, most importantly, a willingness to step into the unknown. But in doing so, this framework has the power to transform not just businesses but lives. It’s a reminder that the heart has a place in leadership and that when we lead with love, empathy, and awareness, we can truly make a difference in creating a better world.
Embracing conscious leadership principles is not only crucial for building a thriving business but also for creating a positive work culture of collaboration, innovation, and sustainable growth. It can lead to increased employee engagement, improved organizational culture, and better long-term business results while also contributing to broader societal well-being.
You have the power to build a conscious culture, an environment that prioritizes authenticity, transparency, continuous learning, and adaptability. Implement these principles in a way that resonates with you and your team and watch how you create a thriving and dynamic workplace where everyone can grow, contribute, and find success together. Which, in my opinion, is true leadership.
The demands and expectations of leaders are constantly evolving and conscious leadership is a powerful tool for navigating those demands and expectations with agility and ease. By embracing the principles of self-awareness, empathy, authenticity, collaboration, and continuous learning, conscious leaders can navigate the complexities of the business world (and even their personal life) with a newfound sense of ease, integrity, and purpose.
You can become a leader who not only achieves business success but also creates a meaningful and lasting impact extending far beyond the confines of your work.
How?
Try out these conscious leadership frameworks and watch how your life, leadership, and business change for the better.
The “15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership” is a framework developed by the authors Diana Chapman (who also happens to be my personal coach), Jim Dethmer, and Kaley Klemp in their aptly-named book “The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership.” These commitments are designed to help individuals become more self-aware and effective leaders by fostering greater consciousness and personal growth.
1. Taking Radical Responsibility: This commitment emphasizes taking full responsibility for one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions, rather than blaming external factors or other people. This is one of the core principles of conscious leadership and arguably the single most beneficial thing you can do during your professional and personal growth journey.
2. Learning Through Curiosity: Self-aware leaders commit to approaching challenges and situations with curiosity, seeking to understand and learn from them, rather than reacting defensively or with fixed beliefs.
3. Feeling Your Feelings: This commitment encourages leaders to embrace emotional intelligence and experience their emotions fully, as emotions provide valuable information about one’s inner state.
4. Speaking with Candor: This commitment encourages honest and open communication, sharing thoughts and feelings authentically, while also listening deeply to others to build more authentic and strong personal relationships and a culture of trust.
5. End Gossip: Conscious business leaders commit to speaking directly to people with whom they have an issue or concern, and encourage others to talk directly to people with whom they have an issue or concern.
6. Staying Grounded in Integrity: Leaders commit to acting in alignment with their values and principles, even when it’s difficult or out of your comfort zone.
7. Cultivate Appreciation: Being open to giving and receiving is the center of this commitment.
8. Inspire Others through your Genius: This commitment involves expressing your authentic, perfect self, and inviting others to do so as well.
9. Play and Rest: Challenging the status quo of grinding and pushing, this commitment emphasizes the importance rest and play hold in one’s life, and that restoration requires hard work and effort to achieve.
10. Recognizing your Stories: This commitment recognizes your perception influences your reactions. Acknowledging the opposite of your stories might be as equally true as the one you believe can prevent a lot of unnecessary conflict and difficult situations by creating a culture that seeks understanding.
11. Be Your Approval: This commitment emphasizes owning your satisfaction. You stop seeking external approval and security and instead commit to creating it for yourself.
12. Abundance Mindset: You make a conscious decision to reject a scarcity mindset and instead look for the abundance in your life. You commit to gratitude for what you have and it being “enough” instead of focusing on a perceived lack.
13. Communities of Allies: This commitment is one where you view others as allies. Unconscious leaders view others as obstacles or barriers. You stop playing the blame game and instead look for the helpers.
14. Win for All: Conscious leaders want to create a positive impact for all. This commitment seeks creating solutions for whatever issues, problems, concerns, or opportunities arise where everyone benefits.
15. Be the Resolution: The final commitment calls for leaders to be the resolution to any issues or challenges they encounter. Instead of relying on others to solve problems, they commit to taking action and being the driving force behind positive change.
These core elements of conscious leadership can help you shift to a more conscious, growth-oriented, and authentic leadership style. I encourage you to try these commitments out. Whether you choose to commit to one of them or all of them, each step you take towards becoming a conscious leader and creating a greater, more positive impact on the world.
