Consciousness and Leadership
(only for leaders who want to be more conscious)
by John Ruh
How conscious are you of your impact as a leader?
As a leader you are expected to have vision and to empower people. But how can you do this if you are unaware of your impact on others. How would you describe your leadership style? What impact does it have on others? Are you a role model for your staff by having an ongoing program that will ensure the support you need to grow personally and professionally?
Why is this important?
Due to the noise and distractions in today’s business world it is more and more difficult to stay conscious and alert to what is going on around you. Losing that awareness has several negative consequences. Chief among these is that if you are not conscious of what is happening you cannot really perform well. All leaders need to create space to become more aware and grow. In doing this the possibilities for you to achieve expand, so, if you want better results, you must also expand your self image.
What is the key?
There are many, many doors of entry to expanded consciousness. It’s my observation that the common denominator of highly conscious leaders is they all have a set of practices/habits that have changed the way they think and see themselves. They are open to new possibilities and ways of thinking. This expanded view allows them to see and understand reality better.
Three “doors” of entry you might consider:
1. A peer group:
Not a networking group, but a business peer group that you meet with on a regular basis. It provides you with a place where you can discuss your issues and get straight talk. Leaders who engage in this process usually experience substantial growth.
2. Best practice tools:
Tools give you the how to’s. There are many, many programs, processes and models to assist you. For example, one popular tool is the DiSC. It is a mirror designed to show you the behavioral aspects of your personality. Which tools do you have in place for yourself and your team?
3. Reading
I highly recommend a popular book on the nature of the ego, Eckhart Tolle’s, “A New Earth.” He was also interviewed by Oprah Winfrey over a series of 10 weeks. These interviews can be viewed online at oprah.com. If you want to know more about your “ego” read this book.
What doors of entry have you used? Please share them with me and your direct reports. Perhaps it will support their leadership growth.
P.S. If you have not experienced the DiSC tool, do a profile (complimentary) online…it only takes 15 minutes.