What is conscious leadership?
For me, it simply means being aware of the present moment – your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and what’s happening around you. You’re not on autopilot just going through the motions. You’re intentional with your words and actions. You’re attuned to what’s going on with other people.
I thought I’d share my take on Alan Watts’ analogy of a boat on the water as it pertains to being a conscious leader.
I’m not much of a water person, but the analogy can be instructive for thinking about leadership both in terms of how lived experiences (the past) shape your leadership today and the vision for your leadership (future).
With that, here’s the analogy:
What is a wake? A boat will leave a wake in its path. The wake represents the past and what has gone before. It “…tells you where the ship has been, in just the same way, that the past and our memory of the past tells us what we have done.” [Alan Watts]
Much like yesterday or this morning, the past is behind us. Yet many of us bring it into our present. Hurt, resentments, false assumptions, old perspectives, and limiting beliefs are just a few examples of the baggage we carry in the present that impacts our leadership approach.
A friend of mine likes to say that sometimes the pain isn’t about letting go, it’s about holding on when it’s time to let go.
➡️ What are you holding onto from the wake? How is it serving you?
What is driving the boat? The energy of the engine in the present moment is propelling the boat forward.
Similarly, our thoughts create energy in the present. Energy can be in the form of anger, sadness, joy, gratitude, and any number of other emotions. Energy will also affect our leadership. Certain forms of energy support forward momentum toward our goals and visions. Other forms hinder it.
Think about it. If you ask a colleague about some information they owe you, the way in which you ask will be different if you are feeling resentful vs. if you are feeling grateful. Each approach will have a different outcome.
➡️ What are your present moment thoughts? Are they propelling you forward or stalling you out?
Which direction is the boat headed? Navigators use maps and GPS coordinates to plot a course toward a landmark or destination. We non-navigators typically use desires, goals, and motivations to point us toward a future dream.
Sometimes the future holds unknowns and it feels safer to cling to old habits and perspectives. Often situations call for us to step into a future version of ourselves despite the lack of clarity of outcomes. This applies whether you’re leading, parenting, or anything else that requires interacting with others.
In the words of Alan Watts, “Freedom from being the puppet of the past, … simply involves a change in your thinking… you don’t define yourself in terms of what you’ve done before but in terms of what you’re doing now.”
➡️ What’s determining your navigational course – the wake or your future vision?
Knowing the type of leader you want to be can pave a clear path forward and guide your actions. If you’re not aware of your actions and the thoughts that precede them, you risk the wake driving your boat.
