The Mindful Leader: Seven Practices for Transforming Your Leadership, Your Organisation, and Your Life
By Michael Bunting
“Great workplaces cannot exist without great leaders, and self-awareness is at the core of great leadership. This book breaks new ground on what it truly means to be a self-aware leader.”
Zrinka Lovrencic
Managing Director, Great Place to Work Australia
Reach Your Leadership and Life Potential
Great leaders are not defined by what they know. They are defined by how they show up when it matters most—during conflict, uncertainty, feedback, and change.
The Mindful Leader by Michael Bunting makes the case that mindfulness is not a stress-reduction technique. It is a disciplined leadership practice that builds the self-awareness, emotional regulation, and inner stability required to lead with both strength and humanity.
Grounded in neuroscience, leadership research, and extensive interviews with senior leaders around the world, the book introduces seven core practices that help leaders stay present, take full accountability, live their values, inspire genuine engagement, cultivate curiosity, empower others, and lead with real compassion.
When these practices are developed, the results are tangible: wiser decisions under pressure, stronger trust and accountability, more meaningful relationships, and workplaces where high performance and human wellbeing coexist.
In this book, you’ll explore:
- Why presence and attention are the foundation of effective leadership.
- How mindfulness builds real self-awareness and emotional regulation under pressure.
- What it means to take full accountability without blame or defensiveness.
- How to lead from values with consistency and integrity.
- How to inspire purpose and engagement without manipulation.
- Why curiosity and a beginner’s mind are essential for learning and innovation.
- How compassion and clarity combine to empower others and drive performance.
“Michael Bunting offers the principles and lessons for the kind of leadership that brings mindfulness into the marketplace. A practical, inspiring read, full of real examples of everyday leaders making the world a better place.”
Jay Coen Gilbert
Co-Founder, B Corps
Endorsements for The Mindful Leader by Michael Bunting
Sharon Salzberg Author of Lovingkindness and Real Happiness at Work “What I greatly appreciate about Michael Bunting’s new book is that it reveals the value of honesty, truthfulness and integrity, not as a matter of right or wrong, but as an essential aspect of highly effective leadership. If all those in leadership positions around the globe took The Mindful Leader as a guide for their work, the results would be impressive.”
Russ Hudson Co-author of The Wisdom of the Enneagram; Collaborator on The Awakened Company “Michael Bunting is at the cutting edge of a new wave of business leadership that is developing more conscious, responsible, and dynamic organizations. His brilliant book shows us that outward success and a life of integrity and compassion are completely compatible, and that a deeper integration of our outer and inner lives is necessary for the future of our planet. This is a book for all those who truly wish to find a way to live and lead more consciously in the business world.”
Gordon Cairns Chairman, Woolworths Limited and Origin Energy “This book shows us that it truly is possible to be a successful business leader and an aware, compassionate human being. If you are wanting to find a way to authentic happiness and leadership effectiveness this is a great resource.”
Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner Co-authors of The Leadership Challenge “The Mindful Leader is a not-to-be-missed read. Michael Bunting breaks new ground, adding an important dimension to our understanding of leadership and the practice of leading. He offers insights about mindfulness that clearly illustrate how leadership development begins within, and he brings science to mindfulness in a way that offers practical applications for meeting today’s leadership challenges—and for making an extraordinary difference in the world.”
Jostein Solheim Chief Executive Officer, Ben & Jerry’s “Our world needs a new kind of leader. The old paradigms of power, fear and control just don’t work in our modern economy anymore. We need leaders who know how to inspire through vision, integrity, sustainability and compassion. If you are interested in finding out how to become a leader for the new economy this is a great read.”
John Replogle Chief Executive Officer, Seventh Generation “Leading in a way that leaves a positive legacy for generations to come should be the benchmark by which we measure great leadership. Conscious leadership is a requisite characteristic of any person who wishes to harness the potential of a millennial team. This book is a beautiful reminder of what that kind of leadership looks like and how to practice it.”
Jan Pacas Managing Director, Hilti Australia; AHRI CEO of the Year “I have worked with Michael Bunting for several years. The message in this book reflects the way he lives and teaches—mindfully and insightfully. This book is a wonderful guide on exactly how to fully integrate mindfulness into your life and leadership. Science now tells us that mindfulness has a great impact on personal effectiveness, which in turn is not only good for you, but also for those you lead.”
Shaun McCarthy Chairman, Human Synergistics Australia & New Zealand “We know self-aware leaders consistently achieve the best long term results for themselves and for others. This practical and insightful book is an excellent guide to developing extraordinary levels of self-awareness. Read it, apply its lessons and your leadership and life will be so much better for it.”
Dr Craig Hassed Author of Mindfulness for Life “The world, more than ever, needs mindful leaders. What are the leadership qualities and attributes that are fostered by mindfulness? How can they be brought about? This outstanding book by Michael Bunting, based on his deep understanding of leadership development as well as the science and practice of mindfulness, provides the answers to those and many other related questions. Read it or give it to people who need to read it.”
Rachel Argaman Chief Executive Officer, TFE Hotels; Telstra National Corporate Businesswoman of the Year “I believe that being a great leader and a great human being are inseparable. This book beautifully shows us how to do both; to be not only the best leader in the world, but to be the best leader for the world. Reading The Mindful Leader and applying its lessons will enrich your life, your leadership, and the lives of all those you influence.”