Conscious leadership

Conscious leadership and vedanta 

1. Conscious leadership - What is it? 

There is not one specific definition of conscious leadership. However Conscious leadership goes together with having a sense of a higher purpose. It goes further than just a simple purpose of wanting more money or more power. Conscious leadership means contributing to growth, contributing to positive evolution. Growth of oneself and positive evolution of society. 

 Essentially, one can identify three characteristic of a conscious leader:

1. Conscious leader has an inner peacefulness and contentment (is naturally fulfilled): They do not need external recognition, power over others, or money. Their feeling of worthiness is not coming from outside.  They do not lead out of competition, they are not interacting with the environment to fulfill any unfulfilled need, because they are already naturally fulfilled. A conscious leader does not need more power, because they have an innate power in themselves. They see themselves as part of the larger picture. 
2. The conscious leader has an in-depth understanding of their own self. Knowing what triggers them, being aware about ones limitations and understanding that the way we look at the world has been influenced by one’s upbringing, education societies. Being aware that the way that I show up directly impact my surroundings. It means also being open to adjust that view and being inclusive to other realities that might also be true. It is the opposite of rigidity.  A conscious leader understand that the way they show up will be mirrored in my environment. If I show up as rigid, my environment and the system I lead will be rigid. If I only see problems and not solutions, my reality will show up as problems and so will be the people be around me.
3. A conscious leader is able to respond to the need of the hour. They are able to step up to the plate and fulfill the need of the hour. A conscious leader goes beyond the limitations of their own ego mind. They do not take decisions out of craving or aversion, fear or suffering but are able to see the larger picture. A conscious leader understands that they are part of a larger whole. 

A conscious leader is therefore leading from possibilities and potential and not from limitation and fragmentation. Conscious leadership is inspirational, it is uplifting, it leads to growth. 

2. What is vedanta?

Vedanta is an ancient spiritual philosophy based on the Vedas, that has its roots in anywhere between 3000 and 5000 years old.  “Vedanta” is a combination of two words “Veda” which means “knowledge” and “anta” which means “the end of” or “the goal of.” It is not about the intellectual knowledge that one acquires from books. However “Knowledge” here means the knowledge of existence. The search for Self-knowledge. 

Yoga and Vedanta are closely intertwine. Where Vedanta is the knowledge, yoga is the practice that brings us to oneness with the core of our nature, pure consciousness.

3. So how are both linked?

In the Vedantic and yogic teaching there is an enormous amount of knowledge and practices that can help us to become more conscious leader. A good example is the Bhagavad Gita: the science of yoga and of self-realization. The Bhagavad Gita takes place on the battle field. Arjuna, is standing on the battlefield opposite his own family members, his cousins. He is in an enormous doubt as he does not want to kill his own family. This is the beginning of the dialogue between Arjuna and Krishna. Dialogue between the ego mind and the higher self and cosmic self.

Three concepts can be highlighted in particular that tell us something about conscious leadership following the definition mentioned earlier:

1. Inner contentment: Duality versus unity

What is Duality? 

There are some typical behaviours that can inform oneself that one is acting from a place of duality:

• Me versus the others: Identification with our stories, our opinions, our experiences, our likes and dislikes. I am what I think, I am my past, I am what I like or dislike.
• Constant need to compete, looking for confirmation from outside, constantly being alert that somebody is not taking our position. If I do not win, I will lose.
• Cannot look at things from the bigger picture. What is in it for me?

Instead of duality, one can also look at reality from a unity perspective: 

• See yourself as part of the bigger whole. How does my action contribute to the benefit of all? 
• Thriving on the success of that bigger whole. If we all thrive, I will thrive as well
• Peace, because nothing to prove. This is not about me. I respond to what is needed right now. 
• Still action, but now in service of what is need for the bigger good.

A good example of duality versus unity can be seen from any team sport. For example any football lover, will know the example of a team that includes big stars but no team work. Each star tries to be the one scoring the goal, being seen by the press, thinking of their next career step. However the team as whole might not play well and actually lose the match.

Then there are other examples of teams where all players are playing in the interest of the whole team. There might not be one big star but they play as one and their teamwork seems effortless with big results. 

Both duality and unit exist at the level of the individual and at the level of the system (at all levels).

2. Understanding of oneself

 This is the essence of the Bhagavad Gita, which is beautifully illustrated at the beginning of the story.  The main character Arjuna is in doubt. He does not want to kill his own cousins and uncle. He is in doubt whether it is better to retreat, avoiding any bloodshed.

This is where the dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna starts. Arjuna realizes that he has to step into his leadership in the interest of the greater good. He could retreat but that would lead to a greater disaster for the whole.

However he could only transcend his fears after facing them. He had to face his doubt, his narratives.

One can think of similar situations for example at the level of a company or organisation. For example there is a conflict in a company, but the management is not willing to address it, as it is discomfortable to do so. However sometimes it is needed to face the conflict in the interest of the whole. Retreat means a bad situation will continue. Conflict means change needs to happen.

Before transcending one’s fears, one first has to become aware however that they exist. One has to become aware of ones own narratives, conditioned identities, all of our stories, which we hold, our positionalities, our belief structures. Only then one can reach total Clarity of mind. 

3. Dharma - purposeful growth

Concept of Dharma can in simple terms be translated as purposeful growth. 

There are three stages;

1. Move in the direction of evolution of growth.

One can ask oneself the question: Is there growth or regression? Growth here means inner growth and evolution. Growth does not mean absence of suffering. But sometimes suffering is needed for growth to happen. For example sometimes one has to get out of a relationship to make space for new experiences. This can be painful on the short term but important for growth on the longer term. 

2. Respond to the need of the hour: meaning am I responding to what is needed right now? And right now means, wherever one is right now, in whatever role one fulfils. This can be role of a CEO, a parent, a child, a friend. What is needed right now? 

3. Let life happening through you. Act without being attached to the fruit of your action and trust that all will happen exactly the way it should happen

4. So what?

Bhagavad Gita teaches us to transcend the ego mind - the ego mind has the right to be here, but you become the master and not the slave. How? Through the practice of yoga.

* This article has been inspired by the teachings of Anand Mehrotra on the Bhagavad Gita and leadership, https://www.sattvaconnect.com/