Post on 07-Apr-2018
transcript
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 1/11
ODA Conference22 October, 2009
Mindful Leadership
Professor Amanda Sinclair
Melbourne Business School
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 2/11
The need for new ways of doingand thinking about leadership
Leadership as it is understood and practised seems toenslave people – leader and led
‘Never have so many labored so long to say so little’
Bennis, W. (1989)
Leadership often harnessed to questionable corporate orexploitative goals – lost sight of purposes to whichleadership put
McDonaldized discourses: predictable and banal
Power, history and dark sides removed from mostleadership accounts
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 3/11
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 4/11
Research informing mindful leadership Neuroscience and evidence about qualities of attention, the
plasticity of the mind and behavioural and intelligence outcomes(Schwarz 2006; Doidge 2008; Greenfield 2008)
Leadership and organisational change research looking at‘presencing’ and the power of leaders who can initiate deeper dialogue and tap in the present to future potential (Senge et.al.
2004; Scharmer 2007)
Evidence on stress aimed at helping leaders reduce theirreactivity and focus energies where it really matters and makes adifference (Hassed; Schwartz 2007)
Happiness studies and positive psychology work (Seligman)
Mindfulness research including MBCT and MBSR (mindfulnessbased cognitive therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction)(Kabat-Zinn 1994)
Philosophical work focusing on eg consciousness studies
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 5/11
Mindful Leadership-definitions/ understandings-practices-developing/teaching-researching
PsychologicalPsychiatricMedical
Neuroscience
Brain Science
Positive PsychologyHappiness at work,
resilience
Mindfulness, Kabat-Zinn, therapies egMBSR, MBCT, ACT
SpiritualityWellbeingGawler Foundation
Meditative TraditionsBuddhism, Yoga
BusinessLeadership &Management
Coaching forCognitive FitnessHigh PerformanceManagementStress management
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 6/11
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 7/11
Bringing mindfulness to leadership
Enables deep focused attention to what isreally going on and what really matters
Enhances presence and authenticitytherefore mobilises others
Reduces stress responses and reactivity Fosters deep appreciative listening – others
feel heard and acknowledged
Encourages letting go of old patterns and
habits, understanding role of ego andconnecting to deeper purpose and ‘bigger self’ (identity work)
Opens to creativity and helps leaders find joy
in their leadership work
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 8/11
Strategies of mindfulness
Mindfulness provides ways to react to thoughtsdifferently, for example
insert a momentary psychic distance between
oneself and a thought instead of just reacting or being captured by it
note the thought
actively let it go; or
take the time to understand where it has comefrom and how it is functioning without gettingcaught up in it.
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 9/11
Enhancing mindfulness by
S Stop what you are doing
T Take a breath
O Observe (body, mind sensations)
P Proceed
Source: Fisher, T. (2005) ‘Beginner’s mind: cultivating
mediator mindfulness’ ACResolution
8/4/2019 A Sinclair Mindful Leadership
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/a-sinclair-mindful-leadership 10/11
Eight Mindful TasksAdapted from Hassed (2002) Know Thyself
Observe habits of perception: ‘ropes not snakes’
Letting go and acceptance
Presence of mind
Noticing limitations we create for ourselves
Listening to others rather than our ourselves
Attend willingly to present situation
Notice negative emotions and allow naturalpleasure and joyfulness
Notice our own happiness inextricably linked to
others, experiment with kindness & gratitude