With shifts in workplace cultures towards flat structures, and an increased focus on workplace wellness, the importance of being a conscious leader has been growing increasingly over the past few years.

In early 2020, before a global pandemic threw the world into disarray, we wrote an article inspired by author, speaker, coach and Brene Brown Dare To Lead facilitator Kylie Lewis (founder of Of Kin) about the importance of humanising your leadership approach.

Over a year later, with the world a far more uncertain place, being a conscious leader is more important than ever.

Even those individuals who previously maintained the illusion of control have found themselves feeling disorientated…looking for guidance. Inevitably, the people we turn to in moments of uncertainty are those in positions of authority. Now more than ever, leaders should be focusing on promoting and facilitating a compassionate, inspiring and supportive culture.

As we outlined in our article inspired by Kylie’s work, being a conscious leader involves being courageous, authentic and vulnerable. The courage Kylie refers to is the courage to trust your intuition – to choose the route which speaks to you most as a fellow human, not necessarily that which is the typical path taken in business. Similarly, being authentic and vulnerable is important as a leader, as this encourages your employees to communicate honestly with you, ultimately facilitating stronger team co-operation and more effective work. With 2020 having increased the external stressors that many people are experiencing in their everyday lives, knowing that their workplace is supportive is increasingly important.

Being a conscious leader doesn’t only refer to the way you handle communication and operation within the workplace, but the values you hold and the steps you take to pursue them. Employees are increasingly interested in working for organisations which align with their values, and when a leader demonstrates a commitment to a social or environmental cause, employees are more likely to remain loyal to that organisation and supportive of that leader.

Movements such as Black Lives Matter and environmental catastrophes such as the recent floods in New South Wales have highlighted some of the greater issues we face as a society, and we’re looking to our leaders to take a stand.

Being a conscious leader – demonstrating compassion on a personal, professional and societal level – not only fosters a healthier and happier workplace, but contributes to a global movement towards a kinder society.

To learn more about how we can reshape the way we work, join us at Conscious Work – an event dedicated to changing workplaces, and changing lives.