Ten behaviors of aspiring conscious leaders who are Setting Intention and Exploring Purposefully.
Start with why! Simon Sinek, inspirational speaker and author, has been advocating this starting point in articles, books, and conversations for more than ten years, and there are an increasing number of leaders in organizations who now start with why. Individuals can usually describe what they and their organizations do, and many can describe how they do it, but, as Sinek asserts, very few people, including organizational leaders, can clearly articulate why they do what they do. Purpose is the why—why we do what we do as individuals and organizations. Exploring purposefully with a possibility mindset, before committing to action, is an important practice for conscious leaders to apply in the process of setting intention.
Exploring purposefully is the first of three practices for setting intention described in the book, The Inner Journey to Conscious Leadership.
A major milestone in my journey through life was an inventure in East Africa led by Richard Leider, where the adventure of a walking safari across the Serengeti was combined with an inner journey of discovery. Leider, a pioneer in the world of purpose, describes purpose as an expression of the deepest dimension within us—of our central core or essence, where we have a profound sense of who we are, where we came from, and where we are going; purpose is what gives life meaning, your reason for being, your reason for getting up in the morning. What is your purpose? If you don’t know your purpose, it is time to discover it. Once you know what it is you can begin setting intentions aligned to purpose and exploring purposefully.
On the website and business card for my hot-air ballooning rides operation, I had written the tagline taking people higher. During purpose coaching conversations, I was able to discover and write down a life purpose statement based on a realization that my passion for ballooning was a manifestation of a much larger purpose. I discovered and described my purpose as taking people higher, in business, in spirit, and in life. My coaching, teaching, and writing is aligned to that purpose. I aspire to living life on purpose, setting intentions and making decisions aligned to purpose, and exploring purposefully.
If you find an aspiring conscious leader setting intentions, exploring purposefully, you will likely find them:
• Exploring inner places in the search for purpose and meaning
• Traveling purposefully on a journey of self-discovery
• Describing an individual core purpose in ten words or less
• Having an organizational purpose focused on people
• Aligning vocation with avocation
• Leading purposefully
• Living life on purpose
• Being passionate about exploring opportunities aligned to purpose
• Setting intentions and making decisions aligned to purpose
• Making the seemingly impossible possible
Which of these behaviors are you already practicing?
Which of the behaviors do you need to work on to become a more conscious leader? Select one of these behaviors to practice today. Set an hourly reminder and take a moment of mindfulness to reflect on your experiences and set an intention for your practice. Send me a message via the contact page if you would like to ask a question or share your experiences.