15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership

There are so many books on leadership. I found the 15 commitments of conscious leadership by Jim Dethmer and Diana Chapman to be one of the best for individual leaders who want to get to their best. Here are the 15 commitments with my brief take on each.
Responsibility:  This is all about having the buck stops with me attitude. As a leader you don’t engage in any form of blame. You take full charge of every aspect of decision making and ensure the team knows you take ownership. This can also be applied to our personal lives and it ensures you are in control most of the time.
Curiosity:  This is a wonderful principle which is applicable for our personal lives. Be totally open to differing viewpoints. Never be bound by your own assumptions. Being open to feedback and other ideas will enable you to become a great leader.
Feel feelings:  This is all about understanding all your feelings like anger, joy and other emotions. Understanding how those feelings relate to you in your body. Once you are aware of your feelings you can take the needed action to make appropriate decisions.
Candor:  This was of course made famous by Jack Welch in Winning. Create a culture of candor within your team where everyone is free to express their opinion without putting others down while at the same time knowing they won’t be reprimanded.
Gossip:  This is all about defending those who are absent. If someone is complaining about someone else, you can bring the other person in and confront the problem directly. This improves trust and builds a wonderful team which is harmonious.
Integrity:  This is all about taking personal responsibility, authenticity, being truthful and keeping agreements. Make agreements with yourself and others. Ensure any broken agreements are communicated upfront. It is also about energy management. When you are fully integrated energy flows in your life as well.
Appreciation: This is all about living in appreciation of everything. Appreciate your team for everything they do well. Appreciation is truly the oxygen to the soul. Every single person including yourself loves appreciation.
Zone of genius: This is all about ensuring you focus on the areas that you can be the best at. It is beyond just the zone of competence it is all about doing the things where you can truly be world class at. Live in the magnificence of your awesome talent.
Play and Rest: This is about being fully engaged at home and work. Manage your work cycles and plan to have vacations once a quarter where you completely recharge. Engage in hobbies that you enjoy and make time for fun whatever that is for you. Here is my article on being fully engaged at home and work Being fully engaged at home and work.
Opposite of my story: This is all about accepting a view point completely opposite to what you believe. This is where the maturity of a leader is truly tested. Accept that sometimes as a leader you could be wrong and be willing to change your view point with new input.
Security, Control and Approval: You don’t look for security, control and approval from outside. There is nothing you need from outside to feel approved. You cannot go anywhere to get what you already have. This is about the Sedona method and it is explained in detail here. Can you let go of the need for security, control and approval. If yes, then you will be more peaceful and accepting of everything that happens.
Enough of everything: This is all about living in a spirit of total abundance. Imagine that whatever you have is enough. When you operate from that philosophy you feel more joyous and content. The soul of money by Lynne Twist is referred here.
Allies: See all the circumstances and people in your life as allies. This is all about seeing the opportunities in your own backyard than looking for it somewhere else.
Win for all solutions: This is all about exiting the win lose model. Focus on making sure you provide solutions where everyone in your organization wins.
Being the resolution: This is all about leading by example. For example, picking up something from the floor and putting it in the garbage. This is about being a role model for the entire organization with small acts.
There you have it a very brief description of all the principles in this wonderful book. Read the book to get the complete understanding of these wonderful principles. Thanks for reading this post.
The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.

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