The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

1. Leaders operate above or below the line: Open and curious vs. closed and defensive

At any point, leaders are either above the line (open, curious, and committed to learning) or below the line (defensive, closed and committed to being right).

Above the line leadership is characterized by openness, curiosity, and a commitment to learning. Leaders in this state are receptive to new ideas, willing to challenge their assumptions, and focused on growth. They approach situations with a sense of possibility and see challenges as opportunities for development.

Below the line leadership, on the other hand, is marked by defensiveness, closed-mindedness, and a need to be right. Leaders operating below the line are resistant to change, quick to blame others, and more concerned with protecting their ego than finding solutions. This state often leads to stagnation and missed opportunities.

Key differences between above and below the line leadership:

• Openness vs. Defensiveness
• Curiosity vs. Certainty
• Learning vs. Being Right
• Growth-oriented vs. Fixed mindset
• Collaborative vs. Competitive

2. Take radical responsibility: Own your circumstances and reactions

I commit to taking full responsibility for the circumstances of my life and for my physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being.

Radical responsibility means owning 100% of your life circumstances and reactions. This approach shifts you from a victim mentality to an empowered state where you recognize your role in creating your reality.

Taking radical responsibility involves:

• Acknowledging that you are the author of your life story
• Refusing to blame others or external circumstances for your situation
• Recognizing that your reactions and emotions are choices
• Seeing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than unfair obstacles

By embracing radical responsibility, leaders free themselves from the drama triangle of victim, villain, and hero roles. They stop wasting energy on blame and resentment, instead channeling that energy into productive solutions and personal growth.

3. Learn through curiosity: Embrace a growth mindset

Conscious leaders are passionately committed to knowing themselves, which is the basis of their willingness to live in a state of curiosity.

Embracing curiosity is a fundamental shift from the need to be right to the desire to learn and grow. This mindset allows leaders to approach situations with openness and wonder, rather than judgment and defensiveness.

Cultivating curiosity involves:

• Asking open-ended questions instead of making assumptions
• Listening to understand rather than to respond
• Seeking diverse perspectives and challenging your own beliefs
• Viewing failures and mistakes as learning opportunities

By fostering a culture of curiosity, leaders create an environment where innovation thrives, team members feel valued, and continuous improvement becomes the norm. This approach leads to better problem-solving, increased creativity, and stronger relationships within the organization.

4. Feel all feelings: Emotions are valuable data, not distractions

Conscious leaders know that feelings are natural and expressing them is healthy. They know that emotion is energy in motion; feelings are simply physical sensations.

Emotional intelligence is a critical skill for conscious leaders. Rather than suppressing or ignoring emotions, they recognize feelings as valuable sources of information and energy.

The five primary emotions (anger, fear, sadness, joy, and sexual feelings) each provide unique insights:

• Anger signals that something needs to change or a boundary needs to be set
• Fear indicates a need for caution or preparation
• Sadness shows what needs to be let go or mourned
• Joy highlights what to celebrate and appreciate
• Sexual feelings point to creative energy and potential

By fully experiencing and expressing emotions in a healthy way, leaders can make more informed decisions, build stronger connections with their team, and maintain higher levels of energy and engagement.

5. Speak candidly: Express yourself with honesty and integrity

Candor is the revealing of all thoughts, feelings, and sensations in an honest, open, and aware way.

Candid communication involves expressing yourself truthfully and completely, while also creating an environment where others feel safe to do the same. This approach builds trust, fosters innovation, and leads to more effective problem-solving.

Key elements of speaking candidly:

• Revealing thoughts, feelings, and sensations honestly
• Expressing unarguable truths (personal experiences and observations)
• Listening deeply to others without judgment
• Creating a safe space for open dialogue

By practicing candor, leaders can eliminate gossip, reduce misunderstandings, and create a culture of transparency and trust. This leads to faster decision-making, more creative solutions, and stronger team cohesion.

6. Practice integrity: Keep agreements and take full responsibility

Integrity is the practice of keeping agreements, taking responsibility, revealing authentic feelings, and expressing unarguable truths. It is essential to thriving leaders and organizations.

Integrity in leadership goes beyond moral righteousness; it's about maintaining wholeness and congruence in all aspects of life and work. This commitment to integrity creates a foundation of trust and reliability that is essential for long-term success.

Components of practicing integrity:

• Making and keeping clear agreements
• Taking 100% responsibility for your actions and outcomes
• Expressing authentic feelings and thoughts
• Aligning your behavior with your values and commitments

Leaders who consistently practice integrity create a culture of accountability and trust. This leads to higher employee engagement, better team performance, and more sustainable business success.

7. Live in your zone of genius: Maximize your unique talents and passions

Conscious leaders are committed to maximizing their zone of genius, where their full magnificence and creativity can be expressed without hesitation.

The zone of genius is where your unique talents and passions intersect. Operating in this zone leads to higher levels of fulfillment, creativity, and productivity.

The four zones of operation:

1. Zone of Incompetence: Tasks you struggle with and dislike
2. Zone of Competence: Tasks you can do but others can do just as well
3. Zone of Excellence: Tasks you're skilled at but don't truly energize you
4. Zone of Genius: Tasks that leverage your unique talents and bring you joy

By identifying and focusing on their zone of genius, leaders can maximize their impact and satisfaction. They can also help team members do the same, creating a more engaged and high-performing organization.

8. Create win-for-all solutions: Collaborate for mutual success

Win-for-all solutions are a goal of conscious leaders and organizations.

Win-for-all thinking moves beyond the zero-sum game mentality to find solutions that benefit all parties involved. This approach leads to more creative problem-solving, stronger relationships, and sustainable success.

Steps to create win-for-all solutions:

1. Identify all stakeholders and their interests
2. Practice candor and deep listening to understand all perspectives
3. Embrace sufficiency thinking (there's enough for everyone)
4. Get curious about innovative possibilities
5. Collaborate to find solutions that meet everyone's core needs

By consistently seeking win-for-all outcomes, leaders foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and mutual support. This leads to stronger partnerships, increased employee engagement, and more sustainable business success.

9. Source approval, control, and security internally: You already have enough

All leaders at any moment are operating from one of two experiences: either they think they lack something and seek to get it from somewhere or someone, or they believe they are already whole, perfect, and complete and move in the world from love and creativity.

Internal sourcing means recognizing that you already have all the approval, control, and security you need within yourself. This shift from external to internal sourcing leads to greater peace, creativity, and effectiveness as a leader.

Key aspects of internal sourcing:

• Recognizing that seeking external approval, control, or security is futile
• Cultivating self-acceptance and self-appreciation
• Embracing uncertainty and letting go of the illusion of control
• Developing a sense of inner security independent of external circumstances

Leaders who source internally are less reactive, more resilient, and better able to inspire and empower others. They operate from a place of abundance rather than scarcity, leading to more innovative and collaborative work environments.

10. Be the resolution: Become the change you want to see in the world

I commit to being the resolution or solution that is needed: seeing what is missing in the world as an invitation to become that which is required.

Being the resolution means taking personal responsibility for creating positive change in the world. Instead of complaining or waiting for others to act, conscious leaders see challenges as invitations to grow and contribute.

Steps to being the resolution:

1. Identify what's missing or needed in a situation
2. See it as an invitation rather than a problem
3. Ask yourself how you can embody the solution
4. Take inspired action from a place of being, not just doing

By committing to be the resolution, leaders inspire others through their example and create ripple effects of positive change. This approach leads to more fulfilling work, stronger communities, and innovative solutions to complex challenges.

Last updated: October 3, 2024