The story is told in ancient Buddhist literature of a pampered princess who was walking barefoot in her father’s kingdom when she stepped on a thorn. In pain, she demanded of her father’s advisers that the entire kingdom be carpeted. One adviser made her a pair of...
Of all leadership essentials, taking personal accountability is among the most important. Accepting accountability for ourselves can be confronting on the best of days. If we follow up those moments of self-honesty with harsh self-judgement, it becomes a real...
During my years of leadership consulting I have met far too many leaders who are acting either from a fear-based niceness or with a heartless “professional” aggression. They have not mastered mindful compassion, nor are they enabling others to act in a way that is...
For leaders, gratitude is a catalyst for recognition. It makes us constantly look for the good in people and feeds our desire to share our gratitude for a job well done. It is a light we carry with us that people are drawn to because they feel good about themselves...
Mindfulness is the methodology by which we mentally stay in the present moment. By doing so, we’re able to manage our behaviour in real time—a critical skill for mindful leaders. The first and simplest step to developing genuine presence is to tune in to the senses....
Great leaders view the world through “beginner’s mind,” seeing things much like a child does with curiosity and wonder and no fixed point of view. Beginner’s mind means to view the world and our experiences with an innocent mind devoid of preconceptions, expectations,...
