The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership written by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman and Kaley Warner Klemp (October 2014).
Conscious leadership. That word intrigued me as soon as I saw the book’s title. Conscious as in Being Fully Present? How would the authors introduce the idea of conscious leadership? What were these 15 commitments?
The book did not disappoint.
The authors begin by explaining the difference between above the line (conscious) and below the line (unconscious) leadership. The reader’s background education continues with an explanation of the Four Ways of Leading Model. Throughout the book, the text is easy to read and understand, not at all reading like a textbook or dissertation. Occasional illustrations introduce and reinforce the message.
The fifteen commitments include such topics as “Taking Radical Responsibility”, “Learning Through Curiosity”, “Feeling All Feelings”, “Speaking Candidly” and more. Each commitment includes a narrative of problematic behavior, desired behavior and how to transition from the former to the latter. At the end of each chapter are tips on practicing the commitment and a chapter summary.
After the fifteen commitments, the book comes to a close with an explanation of the change formula, next steps to take and additional resources for continued learning, including the Conscious Leadership Group website. This book and the related materials will definitely be a resource for ongoing exploration and leadership development.
While reading this book, it was clear that the authors are truly interested in teaching and having their audience learn. The content, format and style support that goal. I would highly recommend The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership as a worthy addition to any leadership library. In addition, the leaders of any organization trying to clarify and even revolutionize its leadership style and message will benefit from this book. Click here to order the book on Amazon.com.
Note: A copy of this book was made available by the publisher at no cost to me. In no other way was the content of this review influenced. The opinions expressed are entirely mine. -EB
