Seven Practices Of A Mindful Leader

Doing the work is simple (but not always easy). In today's practice we will build on the development of self awareness and key ways of helping others. We will do so by learning the three levels of meditation and four kinds of listening. Come to understand how to develop and sustain a regular meditation practice. Explore your “creative gaps” - the space between where you are now and what you envision.

This practice, 'Don’t Be An Expert' means letting go of being right. This can be difficult as a leader or as a parent. We want to be a role model, want to be decisive. And of course at times we do need to make decisions, and have confidence in our way. Paradoxically, it take a good deal of confidence to not know, to question, to be curious and listen. In today's lesson, we come to learn that in meditation practice, you begin to understand and feel that each moment really is new. This moment has never happened before and will not happen again. When we reduce the filters, we see that the world really is magical.

Being human is a tough gig. We don’t always get what we want. We get what we don’t want. We feel lonely, left out, hurt. We fail, people leave us, we leave. Then there is change, in politics, environment, technology. And, there is old age, sickness, and death - we know we will lose everyone and everything. In today's lesson, we embrace and learn from the pain that comes with being human. Transform pain into learning and opportunity, satisfaction, and joy.

There is a good deal of evidence that the more leadership responsibility a person takes on the less the empathy - the less feeling other’s feelings. And there is evidence that empathy is one of the most important qualities of excellent effective leadership. Let us acknowledge the importance of not avoiding the pain of others. Choose to actively embody a profound connection to all humanity and life.

Let go of a false sense of independence. Empower others and be empowered by others to foster healthy group dynamics. Today, we’ll look at what Google learned about what makes for great leaders and how to create effective, high-performing teams: Skilled Coaching (building trust and care), Empowering (helping others to succeed), Listening (showing awareness and curiosity). We will also explore how to make meetings work better to support cultures of trust and results.

Let go of a mindset of scarcity. Today, you will learn how to shift your relationship with problems and difficulties. Turning toward your discomfort, acceptance, letting go of blame. This lesson is one of cultivating focus, engagement, and spaciousness. Learn how to integrate mindfulness practice, producing immediate results.

To study the way is to study the self; to study the self is to go beyond the self; to go beyond the self is to feel your connection with everyone and everything. In today's lesson, we’ll explore a variety of practices aimed at deepening and integrating your mindfulness practice. Work is a great playground, a grand theater for humans to express themselves and to interact with each other and with the material world and spiritual world.

Learn to cultivate your real power. Become more aware of what power is and ways we give it away or embrace it. Explore your life as a “Hero’s Journey” - following your calling, refusing the call, supporting those around you, meeting difficulties, finding your power and finally, living it. In this last lesson, we will return to and review the Seven Practices: Love the work, Do the work, Don’t be an expert, Connect to your pain, Connect to the pain of others, Depend on others & Keep making it simpler.