Leading With Awareness A Roadmap for Awakened Leaders

Presenting the essentials of awakened leadership through 50 contemplative branches, this text is a revolutionary yet sensible leadership manual that takes the reader from self-reflection to interaction, touching on internal and external factors that influence business decision-making. This book is designed to expand awareness within those who lead at present or those who aspire to lead. One can only lead others responsibly having understood how to lead the self, becoming an “awakened leader.” Awakened leaders stay true to their values but are very much aware that life and business are continuous processes of growth and change—an awareness more critical than ever in today’s VUCA world. Awakened leaders recognize that these constant changes are calls to regular reflection, enabling greater empathy, understanding, and ultimately, improved decision-making. Postgraduate students and practicing leaders in the workplace will value this book, which tells them in a straightforward way how to undertake no-nonsense action with a compassionate and visionary foundation.

Prelude; SELF INSPECTION; Am I a leader?; Why should I be a leader?; Who benefits from me being a leader?; WHAT’S MY PURPOSE?; Understanding; Contentment; Supporting/Not Harming; WHAT’S THE FOUNDATIONAL PROBLEM?; Lack of Understanding; Taker Mindset; Hurt and Aversion; HOW CAN I SOLVE IT?; Reflecting: Inwardly and Outwardly; Questioning My Actions: Contemplating on Security and Progress; WHO AM I AFFECTING?; Myself? Others? Human? Non-Human? Is there a Difference?; WHAT MATTERS IN LEADERSHIP?; On Awareness and Consciousness; On Mindfulness; On Attitude; On Authenticity; On Mental Models; About Sleepwalking; On Honesty; About Respect; Regarding Simplicity and Humility; On Adaptability; On Nurturing an Innovative Mindset; About Empathy; Those Soft Skills Overall; Openness to Diversity; What’s Up with Reflection; Considering Success; Thinking about Happiness; Keeping Up with Trends; Embracing Change; Maintaining Balance; Those Difficult People; Dealing with Setbacks; The Need to Get Out (of Your Comfort Zone); Embracing "Different"; Lifelong Learning and Leadership Paradigms; About Creativity; That Social Aspect; On Giving Back; The Spiritual Side; A Dash of Humor; Give Your All and Let Go; Stop Comparing!; Appreciate Yourself; The Teachers in Your Life; Everything has a Purpose; About making Choices; Letting the Genie out of the Bottle; On Treading the Noble Eightfold Path; Moving Forward from Here

Joan Marques reinvented herself from entrepreneur to edupreneur, currently serving as Dean, School of Business, Woodbury University in Burbank, CA. She (co-)authored/edited more than 31 books so far. She lives, teaches, and writes about awakened leadership within a spiritual context.