Welcome to today’s episode on conscious leadership with Chris Walker. We’ll explore how true consciousness goes beyond environmental awareness, diving into foundational principles like avoiding anger, greed, and hate and practising mindfulness. Discover the power of intent and how aligning it with conscious leadership can transform your life and leadership style. Let’s get started on this enlightening journey!

Introduction

Good morning, good afternoon, this is Chris. Today, we’re diving into the concept of conscious leadership, a critical skill for anyone in the workplace to master.

The Got-To Headspace

A vast majority of people, even in top firms, operate in a “got-to” headspace, the initial stage before true consciousness. Simply identifying as conscious doesn’t mean one truly is. The term has been misused, especially regarding environmental and social issues. Correcting mistakes like reducing carbon emissions is commendable but doesn’t necessarily change one’s thinking process.

Levels of Human Consciousness

The third level of human consciousness is “effort,” focusing on goodness. However, if one hasn’t reached higher levels of consciousness, this can justify harmful actions.

Understanding the Foundations

In practices like yoga, one must progress through preliminary stages before advanced practices. The Western mindset often skips these foundational levels, leading to superficial understanding.

The First Step: Avoiding Anger, Greed, and Hate

  1. Anger is destructive and counterproductive, particularly in leadership. Its short-term effects often lead to long-term negative consequences.
  2. Greed: Attachment to outcomes can cloud judgment. Commitment is vital, but distinguishing it from greed and knowing when to let go is crucial.
  3. Hate: Disguised as dislike or judgment, hate affects how we interact with others. Eliminating judgments is essential for effective leadership.

Recognising the Signs

If driven by anger, greed, or hate, reassess and reset your approach. This self-awareness is critical for mindful leadership.

The Second Level: Mindfulness

Mindfulness involves awareness of the body, mind, feelings, and objects. To set a positive tone for the day, choose to wake up with fulfillment, inspiration, and happiness.

Mindfulness Practices

  • Mindfulness of Mind: Select specific thought channels like gratitude, presence, certainty, and love to shape your mental state.
  • Highest Priorities: Focus on your highest priorities daily, such as reading, writing, travelling, or speaking, to maintain alignment with your goals.

Integrating Mindfulness in Daily Life

Link activities outside your primary priorities to your main goals to maintain high self-worth. Use moments like playing with kids or doing chores to refresh your mind and body.

The Power of Intent

The third level focuses on intent. Actions driven by the need for approval can lead to imbalance. Pure intent is crucial, coupled with awareness and mastery of foundational levels, to avoid unintentional harm.

Understanding Your Core Intent

Identify your single core intent behind actions to bring clarity and authenticity to your life. It’s not about working hard but about having a clear, good intent.

Practical Example: Leadership and Intent

Indra Nooyi, former CEO of PepsiCo, clearly intended to drive profit. Aligning all her initiatives with this goal led to significant success.

Conclusion: Reflecting on Your Intent

Conscious leadership requires mastering levels of consciousness, from avoiding negative motivations to practising mindfulness and clarifying your intent. Reflect on your core intent and align it with conscious leadership principles.

This is Chris, wishing you a great day. Bye for now.