What Is Conscious Leadership? A Quick Guide to Conscious Leadership Concepts
Conscious Leadership Defined
Conscious Leadership is a revolutionary and impactful leadership technique implemented by some of today’s most effective leaders. The concept of Conscious Leadership was first outlined and made popular in Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Waner Klemp’s 2014 book The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership. Since the book’s publication, several conscious leadership conferences, training groups and coaches have instructed thousands of leaders in this game-changing leadership philosophy. So what is conscious leadership? In short, conscious leadership is the process by which a leader becomes radically responsible, self-aware, and focuses on building a culture of “we” rather than a culture of “me.”
Above the Line vs. Below the Line
One of the first concepts covered in The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership is the idea of above the line vs. below the line. When someone is in a “below the line” position they view life through the lens of a victim, always being at the affect of life and interpreting it through a “to me” lens. On the contrary, when someone is in an “above the line” position they view life through the lens of a creator, as someone who is able to impact and learn from their environment, interpreting life through a “by me” lens. This concept is described by the authors as “the most important model we know of for being a conscious leader.”
So, what does above the line vs. below the line leadership look like? Leadership above the line means a leader is open, curious, and committed to learning. Leadership below the line means a leader is closed, defensive, and committed to being right. The theory is that at any given moment leaders are either above the line or below the line, and the most important thing they can do for themselves and their company culture is to recognize and be honest about where they are, then implement tools to shift to being above the line if they were previously below it.
While this might sound simple, it’s actually more complicated than it first appears. In fact, the default position for most people is to live below the line. This is mainly due to evolutionary psychology and in particular the amygdala, the part of our brain that constantly scans our environment for threats. While most of today’s threats rarely endanger our physical survival (there probably aren’t many Bengal tigers in your office building), they do at times seem to threaten the survival of our ego. In the face of these imagined threats the amygdala reacts in the same way it would to a physical threat, sending a crisis alert to all parts of the brain and triggering a survival response. The authors describe this phenomenon by stating “the higher the stakes - for example, we could lose our job or the love of a significant other or control of something we deem important - the more our ego will try to survive by being right.” The goal of a conscious leader, therefore, is to recognize how he or she might actually be reacting, thinking, and leading from below the line, and then take active steps to shift their outlook and leadership style to one that is based in an above the line commitment.
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership
The 15 commitments of conscious leadership are the 15 commitments that define a conscious leader. They are as follows:
Taking radical responsibility
Learning through curiosity
Feeling all feelings
Speaking candidly
Eliminating gossip
Practicing integrity
Generating appreciation
Excelling in your zone of genius
Living a life of play and rest
Exploring the opposite
Sourcing approval, control and security
Having enough of everything
Experiencing the world as an ally
Creating “win for all” solutions
Being the resolution
At the start of each chapter, each commitment of conscious leadership is presented as a binary, seen through the lens of “above the line vs. below the line.” For example the second commitment, “Learning through curiosity” is presented as the following:
Below the line: “I commit to being right and to seeing this situation as something that is happening to me. I commit to being defensive, especially when I am certain that I am RIGHT.”
Above the line: “I commit to growing in self-awareness. I commit to regarding every interaction as an opportunity to learn. I commit to curiosity as a path to rapid learning.”
As mentioned before, living subconsciously below the line is often our default position. By practicing conscious leadership, leaders learn about each of these 15 commitments, identify what “above the line” and “below the line” behavior looks like for each one, and then strive to live in an “above the line” fashion in regards to each commitment.
Alignment
One of the most defining aspects of conscious leadership is the way in which it bridges the gap between what someone says they want, and what they actually have. This transformation is accomplished by committing to alignment and pursuing one’s “whole YES.” Someone’s “whole YES” is found in the intersection of his or her genius, purpose, passion and excellence. Alignment is found in the intersection of IQ, EQ, and BQ. While IQ is often considered the main factor in management decisions, conscious leadership brings EQ (emotional intelligence) and BQ (whole body intelligence) back to the forefront. This is because most leaders are taught not to listen to what their body and emotions tell them. Too often they discount their instincts by over-rationalizing their decisions, overriding what their body and emotions tell them. When leaders are empowered through conscious leadership to rediscover their intuition and include it in the decision-making process, they start to operate in alignment with themselves and draw nearer to their “whole YES.”
Additionally, being in alignment with oneself makes it easier for one to make decisions out of trust and love. Most leaders make decisions from a below the line perspective driven by fear. As leaders draw nearer to their “whole YES” it becomes easier for them to trust their instincts and make decisions out of trust and love, from a perspective of abundance instead of scarcity. This transformation of the decision making process not only allows leaders to come into alignment with themselves, but it also helps business keep in alignment with their core principles and values, developing a brand of integrity that others trust.
Other Benefits of Conscious Leadership
Because the principles of conscious leadership are not limited to any single environment, people who practice conscious leadership see results in both their personal and professional lives. By adhering to the 15 commitments of conscious leadership, practitioners begin to thrive in the following three areas, each of which impact both the personal and professional spheres of one’s life:
Self-knowledge: Conscious leadership often seems intimidating to most people when they first encounter it. This is because it forces us to look hard and deep at the areas of our life that might not be as refined as we like to think they are. Being a student of the 15 commitments forces one to take a critical look at one’s own life and behavioral tendencies, which can be difficult at first. By becoming self-aware, however, leaders learn how to respond to situations instead of reacting to them, and they empower others to do the same. This ultimately leads not only to personal transformation, but also to the transformation of a company culture, where the benefits of self-knowledge and mindfulness lead to consistent company growth and wins.
Intention: Conscious leaders are incredibly intentional individuals. By weighing not only the impact of decisions but also the intent behind them, conscious leaders foster a company culture where employees are deeply valued and cared for intentionally. This allows employees to grow, feel secure in their roles, and flourish in both a personal and professional context. Lastly, acting intentionally also enables one to develop relationships based on candor and trust, which is essential to success in the business world.
Empowerment: So much of conscious leadership is outward-looking and focuses on leading by example. This much is evident simply by looking at the 15 commitments of conscious leadership. By concentrating on one’s relationship to the world external to one’s self, others are empowered to do the same. This empowerment spreads like a contagion through the office environment and radically transforms company culture. When a leader takes radical responsibility, her employees do the same. When a manager begins speaking candidly to coworkers, personnel starts acting likewise. Excellence begets excellence, and conscious leaders empower everyone in their environment to grow as both individuals and working professionals.
Conscious Leadership - The Conclusion
More and more executives are getting trained in conscious leadership, and the results are clear. Conscious leadership consistently leads to a transformation of one’s worldview, personal relationships, and company culture. Apart from growing in a professional context, conscious leaders also flourish in their personal lives, and their simple presence empowers those around them to do the same. Conscious leaders are leading their businesses further than ever before, and they naturally attract talent away from other businesses that do not follow the conscious leadership model. For those considering attending a conscious leadership conference or working with a conscious leadership coach, say yes and go for it! Give it a shot and see how becoming a conscious leader transforms your life.
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