Conscious leadership emphasizes self-awareness, authenticity, and a deep understanding of the impact of one’s actions on others and the organization. Leaders can become more conscious of their impact by considering these behaviors.
| Move Away From | Move Toward |
| Self-Centered | Self-Awareness |
| Emotional Reactivity | Emotional Intelligence Responses |
| Acting on Impulse | Mindfulness |
| Hiding Behind a Facade | Authenticity |
| Self-Leadership | Servant Leadership |
| Gray Areas | Ethical Decision Making |
| Task-oriented Leadership | Purpose Driven Leadership |
| Complacency | Continuous Learning |
| Internal Focus | Social and Environmental Responsibility |
| Individualism | Collaboration and Inclusivity |
After awareness comes action. Conscious leadership involves recognizing when employees need extra support and providing resources for them to release stress.
Here is a mindfulness activity to help you begin training the mind to strengthen your resolve in how you respond to traumatic situations.
- Find a comfortable chair or cushion to sit on that you might lay on the ground
- Should you be in a chair, have your feet flat on the floor, and hands in your lap hold an erect yet not stiff posture
- Once you get settled, close your eyes and begin paying close attention to the breath
- Say to yourself, ‘Breathe in, I feel my body. Breathe out, I feel my body
- Begin with your feet performing a body scan sensing each part of your body as you move your focus to the crown of the head
- Say to yourself, ‘Breathe in, I calm my body. Breathe out, I calm my body
- Should you start thinking, acknowledge the thinking, and like a helium balloon, let go of the string and the thought, allowing it to float away, returning your attention to the breath
- No need to judge yourself for thinking. That is what the mind does.