For some, it carries associations of being overly gentle, overly accommodating, or lacking in rigour. In environments where results matter, this can create resistance before the conversation has even begun.

It is worth being clear. Conscious leadership is not soft leadership.

If anything, it demands more.

To lead consciously is to bring awareness to how you think, how you feel, and how you act. It is to notice the patterns that drive your behaviour and to take responsibility for them. This requires honesty. It requires discipline. It requires a willingness to see what is actually happening, not just what is comfortable.

From this place, clarity becomes possible.

Clarity in communication. Clarity in expectations. Clarity in what is working and what is not. There is less avoidance, not more. Difficult conversations are not delayed unnecessarily. Decisions are made with an understanding of both immediate and longer term impact.

Boundaries are an essential part of this.

A conscious leader does not say yes to everything. They recognise limits, both their own and those of the team. They understand that overextension leads to diminished performance and increased risk. So they make choices. They prioritise. They hold the line where needed.

This can feel uncomfortable at times. Especially if there is a tendency towards people pleasing or conflict avoidance. Yet without boundaries, clarity erodes. And without clarity, leadership weakens.

Decisiveness also plays a role.

Conscious leadership is not about endless reflection. It includes action. Decisions are taken with the best available information, informed by both analysis and awareness. There is an acceptance that not every decision will be perfect, but a commitment to learning and adjusting.

What changes is the quality of the decision-making process.

Less driven by fear or urgency alone. More grounded in a broader perspective. More able to take into account the human dimension as well as the commercial one.

The result is often stronger, not weaker.

Teams led in this way tend to experience both support and structure. They know where they stand. They understand what is expected. They feel considered, but not indulged.

There is a balance here. One that integrates presence with performance.

Conscious leadership asks more of the leader, not less. It asks for self-awareness, emotional regulation, clear thinking, and the courage to act in alignment with what is seen.

It is not always the easiest path. But it is a powerful one.

And in a world that is increasingly complex and fast-moving, it may be one of the most necessary forms of leadership we can cultivate.

By Neil Seligman

Neil Seligman is a pioneer in the field of conscious leadership and a passionate advocate for mindfulness, presence, and spiritual growth at work and in life. He is the author of Conscious Leadership and 100 Mindfulness Meditations, and the Founder of The Conscious Professional.

Ready to go deeper? Here are three ways to connect:

1. Try our 10-day online mindfulness course: Zen in Ten

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching or Energy Work: Schedule Here

3. Explore Keynotes and Team Trainings: Let’s Talk

The post Conscious Leadership Is Not Soft Leadership appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

Before a word is spoken, before a direction is set, something else is already happening. Your mood is entering the room.

Human beings are exquisitely sensitive to one another. We read tone faster than content. We feel the atmosphere before we analyse the message. A leader who is tense, reactive, or unsettled may still deliver a well-constructed plan, but the underlying signal tells a different story. The team feels it, and they respond accordingly.

This is what we might call emotional contagion. Not as a theory, but as a lived experience. A leader’s state spreads. It shapes the field in which everyone else operates.

Self-regulation, then, is not a personal luxury. It is a professional responsibility.

To regulate is not to suppress. It is not about becoming neutral or flat. It is about developing the capacity to notice what is happening within you, and to remain in relationship with it without being overtaken. There is a steadiness that can hold intensity without amplifying it.

When a leader can do this, something subtle but powerful changes. Conversations become clearer. Reactions slow down just enough to allow choice. The space between stimulus and response becomes usable.

In that space, leadership begins.

Consider a moment of pressure. A deadline is missed. A client is unhappy. The instinctive reaction might be frustration or urgency expressed sharply. It feels justified. Yet the impact is often contraction in others. People become cautious, guarded, less willing to think openly or admit difficulty.

Now imagine the same moment held differently. The leader feels the same surge of energy, but does not transmit it unconsciously. There is a pause, a breath, a conscious choice of tone. The issue is still addressed directly, but without unnecessary escalation.

The difference is not in the content. It is in the regulation.

Over time, this creates a culture. Not one defined by rules, but by nervous systems that feel safe enough to function well. Clarity improves. Ownership increases. Creativity returns.

Self-regulation is trainable. It is built through simple, repeated acts of awareness. Noticing your breath before responding. Feeling your feet on the ground during a difficult conversation. Recognising the early signs of reactivity and choosing not to follow them blindly.

These are small practices. Yet their impact is cumulative.

The invitation is straightforward. Begin to take responsibility for the state you bring into the room. Not perfectly, but consciously. Notice when you are steady, and notice when you are not.

Leadership does not start when you speak. It starts in the moment before.

By Neil Seligman

Neil Seligman is a pioneer in the field of conscious leadership and a passionate advocate for mindfulness, presence, and spiritual growth at work and in life. He is the author of Conscious Leadership and 100 Mindfulness Meditations, and the Founder of The Conscious Professional.

Ready to go deeper? Here are three ways to connect:

1. Try our 10-day online mindfulness course: Zen in Ten

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching or Energy Work: Schedule Here

3. Explore Keynotes and Team Trainings: Let’s Talk

The post Leadership Starts With Self-Regulation appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

Professional presence influences how we communicate, how we make decisions, how we lead, and how we are perceived by others. It shapes trust, credibility, and effectiveness. In many ways, it is the foundation beneath technical expertise, leadership capability, and emotional intelligence.

When someone has presence at work, you can feel it immediately. They are attentive. They are not rushing ahead mentally or distracted by internal commentary. Their attention is available. Conversations slow down. Complexity becomes easier to navigate.

This is not charisma. It is grounded attention.

In contrast, the absence of presence is costly. When professionals operate on autopilot, they miss nuance. They interrupt. They react rather than respond. Communication becomes rushed or defensive. Decision-making suffers.

Many high-performing professionals have learned to compensate for a lack of presence with speed, intellect, or control. This can drive results in the short term. Over time, it contributes to stress, misalignment, and burnout.

Presence is not about being calm all the time. It is about being fully engaged with what is actually happening, internally and externally. This is why presence is increasingly recognised as a core leadership skill.

From a performance perspective, presence improves decision-making. When we are present, we are more aware of subtle signals, both in ourselves and in others. We are less reactive and more deliberate. This leads to clearer judgment and better outcomes.

Presence also strengthens communication skills. Listening improves. Words become more measured. Silence is used effectively rather than avoided. These qualities are central to executive presence, even though they are rarely taught explicitly.

In leadership contexts, presence is deeply influential. Teams unconsciously regulate around the emotional tone of those in authority. Leaders who can maintain leadership presence under pressure tend to create environments of psychological safety, trust, and sustained performance.

This is not softness. It is a form of strength.

Presence is closely linked to mindfulness at work, though it does not require meditation cushions or long practices. At its core, mindfulness is about staying compassionately present with what is arising. In professional settings, this translates into clearer focus, better emotional regulation, and greater resilience.

One of the most effective ways to build presence is through the body. Slowing the breath. Feeling the feet on the floor. Allowing a pause before speaking. These small actions signal safety to the nervous system, which supports clarity and confidence.

Training presence is not about stopping thoughts. It is about relating to them differently, with more space and less identification. This shift alone can significantly reduce stress and improve workplace performance.

In demanding roles, presence also plays a role in burnout prevention. When professionals remain chronically disconnected from their own internal state, exhaustion often arrives unnoticed. Presence restores contact. It allows earlier course correction.

In a culture that rewards speed and output, presence can feel counter-cultural. Yet it is precisely what allows professionals to sustain effectiveness over time.

If you want to lead well, communicate clearly, and make better decisions under pressure, start here. Presence is not an optional extra. It is the ground from which professional mastery grows.

By Neil Seligman

Neil Seligman is a pioneer in the field of conscious leadership and a passionate advocate for mindfulness, presence, and spiritual growth at work and in life. He is the author of Conscious Leadership and 100 Mindfulness Meditations, and the Founder of The Conscious Professional.

Ready to go deeper? Here are three ways to connect:

1. Try our 10-day online mindfulness course: Zen in Ten

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching or Energy Work: Schedule Here

3. Explore Keynotes and Team Trainings: Let’s Talk

The post Why Presence Is the Most Underrated Professional Skill appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

June is a threshold month. The first half of the year lies behind us; the second awaits.

It is a perfect moment to pause and ask: who am I becoming through my work?

In the rush of professional life, many high achievers power forward without pausing to reflect. Yet reflection is not indulgence, it is essential. It reconnects us to our values, clarifies our intentions, and gently realigns our actions with our deeper truths.

This is not about judging what has passed, but witnessing it. Where have I thrived? Where have I drifted? Where did I act from presence, and where from fear or reactivity?

Reflection Questions for the Conscious Professional:

• What did I learn about myself in the past six months?
• Where did I lead with integrity, and where did I compromise?
• What am I proud of?
• What still feels incomplete?
• What is calling to be released, reclaimed, or reinvented?

Take your answers not as verdicts, but as offerings. Clues from your inner compass. Let them inform your next chapter.

We are not static. Conscious Professionals are in continuous evolution. We listen, adjust, realign.

The midpoint of the year offers the perfect space for this work.

Try this practice:

Set aside 20 minutes. Sit somewhere quiet with a notebook. Breathe. Then ask: Who do I choose to be from here? Let the words come. Not from your mind, but your deeper being.

Mid-year is not just about planning. It’s about presence. Returning to your why. Recalibrating your inner compass.

Ask yourself:

• How sustainable is the pace of my doing?
• How peaceful do I feel with the way I am showing up for others?
• What would make me feel more joyfully alive in the second half of the year?

One of the greatest leadership strengths is the ability to pause. In stillness, we see what speed hides. In reflection, we reawaken what matters.

As you step into the next chapter, do so with reverence. This is your life. Let it be an expression of your deepest values.

Presence leads us home.

By Neil Seligman

Neil Seligman is a pioneer in the field of conscious leadership and a passionate advocate for mindfulness, presence, and spiritual growth at work and in life. He is the author of Conscious Leadership and 100 Mindfulness Meditations, and the Founder of The Conscious Professional.

Ready to go deeper? Here are three ways to connect:

1. Try our 10-day online mindfulness course: Zen in Ten

2. Explore 1:1 Coaching or Energy Work: Schedule Here

3. Explore Keynotes and Team Trainings: Let’s Talk

The post The Mid-Year Mirror: Conscious Reflection for the Modern Leader appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

The Dalai Lama

When life feels overwhelming, your mind will produce a thousand narratives. From endless questions to subtle anxieties, human minds naturally spin stories that feel real but are, in essence, transient thoughts. The Dalai Lama reminds us that knowing our own mind is the first step toward inner mastery. Predictive, negative thoughts are not truths; they are echoes of fear and doubt. You have the power to navigate from stressful, anxious thinking to calm, creative, resourceful thinking. Anchor yourself in this truth. Take a deep breath and remember that the storm in the mind is just that, a storm. The skill to shift from reaction to response is called in now. Steady the ship.

Byron Katie

“When we argue with reality, we lose, but only 100% of the time.” Byron Katie’s words remind us that resistance to reality only deepens our suffering. “Loving what is” doesn’t mean resignation; it’s about creating space within our bodies and minds to fully accept the present circumstances, no matter how challenging. This acceptance isn’t passive, it’s a grounded, compassionate opening that sees the seeds of growth even within adversity. The power of this approach lies in its subtlety; by leaning into acceptance, we free up energy to face the situation with clarity. With every difficult moment lies an opportunity for our becoming.

Eckhart Tolle

Eckhart Tolle reminds us that the “Now” is the only place where life truly happens. This moment, no matter how tense, uncertain, or confusing, calls us powerfully into presence. Instead of retreating into fears, predictions, and stories that take us out of the moment, we’re invited to stay here, grounded in what is real. Presence isn’t passive; it’s alive, active, and fertile with potential. One way to shift into presence is by asking yourself: ‘What does life seek to do through me now?’ By focusing on what feels purposeful, we transform anxiety into action and reclaim our power to shape what’s next.

Krishnamurti

When Krishnamurti was asked the secret behind his calm, unwavering wisdom, he famously responded, “I don’t mind what happens.” This profound attitude isn’t one of indifference, but one of radical acceptance and openness. By not attaching our peace to outcomes, we liberate ourselves from emotional swings that lead to turmoil. ‘Not minding what happens’ allows us to remain present, unshaken by life’s ups and downs. It’s a stance that cultivates both inner strength and flexibility. In this freedom lies a wisdom that sees beyond the moment.

Dr. Steven Greer

Here’s a curveball but an important one: Dr. Steven Greer, known for his advocacy of peaceful cosmic engagement, is also a passionate proponent of humanity evolving into a Stage 1 Civilisation, one that transcends divisions and embodies unity, compassion, and higher consciousness. Greer reminds us that we don’t need a majority to bring about this shift. Just as helium becomes a superfluid with only 1% of its molecules shifting state, perhaps humanity, too, will require only a small percentage of individuals to anchor in stable, peaceful consciousness for all of us to evolve. In this way, each who lives in this state contributes to a threshold that can shift the whole. Our collective rise, then, depends on this dedicated 1% of conscious leaders expanding their awareness and embodying a shared peaceful vision for humanity’s evolution.

A Call to Conscious Leaders

In times like these, the teachings of the Dalai Lama, Byron Katie, Eckhart Tolle, Krishnamurti, and Dr. Steven Greer serve as more than wisdom, they’re vital tools for grounding our work as leaders. Remember, whatever your role, whether you’re a parent, professional, HR leader, learning executive, or creative, the work you do on yourself has an invisible and undeniable impact on the world around you. This isn’t about escaping reality; it’s about standing fully within it, grounded and aware of your power to uplift and transform.

When we engage from this place, we inspire others to do the same. So take a deep breath, re-commit to your path, and know this: your presence is needed, your steadiness is powerful, and your light is a necessary part of our future story.

Beneath the tumult, the world is calling for Conscious Leadership, let’s answer with courage, creativity, and heart.

By Neil Seligman, Author & Speaker

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 3 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

2. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.

3. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post “A Sucker Punch to the Soul!” Five Wisdom Teachings to Help You Get Back Up, Consciously appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

You could be the most charming, most intelligent, most senior, most skilled, most high-achieving person in the world. But, if your confidence gets knocked, which happens to us all, all of those facts about how brilliant you are can melt away. Your self-worth and resilience can crumble fast! I can’t tell you how useless I have felt in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary at times.

Confidence is key. It’s key to resilience, to momentum, to productivity, and to feeling good about everything that you are. But it doesn’t always come with ease. Sometimes it has to be worked for. Sometimes confidence has to be tricked into existence.

If you are feeling lower than usual, or have run out of confidence-boosting ideas, try one of these…

1.     Music

Among other things, I have been an actor for many years. There are many difficulties with this job, and one of those is how to tackle auditions. Imagine that you have job interviews every single month, sometimes week, of your life. Now imagine that that interview will last 5 minutes, and you have to ensure that those 5 minutes are jam-packed with high-quality interaction. Situations like these require you to get in the zone as quickly as possible, and this is where your favourite bit of music comes in very useful.

Music is magic. It has a way of igniting the soul and making you feel like you can do anything. I take music with me wherever I go, as I never know when I will need to be reminded of the sensation of confidence and worth through music.

2.     Fake It ‘Til You Feel It

Sometimes, if I am not feeling especially confident or resilient, I just pretend to be confident. More often than not, if I enter a situation with faux confidence, actual confidence takes over without me noticing it. This might sound a little odd, but it really works!

3.     Work It Out

Even if I have to force myself out of the house, I know that a workout will make me feel infinitely better about pretty much everything. As you may well know, exercise is one of the best ways to release those endorphins, those ‘feel good’ stress-releasing chemicals. On top of that, I know it also makes me feel productive and like I am looking after myself; a physical reminder that I am striving for growth. It always makes me feel on top of things for the day.

4.     Sleep

Don’t watch that extra episode. Put that phone down. Go to bed early, like you told yourself you would when you woke up knackered this morning. It’s an easy trap to fall into, and I know that I fall into it often. Getting a good night’s sleep might mean that tomorrow seems to come around faster, but tomorrow will feel a lot less daunting after a really good night’s rest and recuperation.

5.     Self-Care

You might think this trick superficial, even vain, but I really believe that if you think you look good, you will feel good. Just last week I was meeting with someone. The day before I was feeling a little sluggish; I hadn’t had a thorough shave in a few days, my hair was looking out of control, and, as I had been working from home, I’d worn nothing but shorts and t-shirts for weeks. So, I got up the next day, went to the gym, got my haircut, had a beard trim and a long hot shower and put on some new clothes, and felt amazing.

The difference looking after your appearance can make to your inner being is not to be underestimated!

6.     Go Outside

Sometimes getting out and about, being in the world, buying a coffee, talking to the person at the till, and standing at exactly the right point on the platform for the train door to stop in front of you, reminds you that you are part of the world. A cog. A person who knows things and can interact with strangers with charm and confidence. All these little bits of knowledge about your world, and the small interaction you have can make you forget you were having a down day remarkably quickly.

By Chris Thomson

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 3 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

2. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.

3. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post Ways to Build Up Your Confidence appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

Challenge 1: The Profit-Pressure Conundrum

One of the biggest perceived challenges facing Conscious Leadership is the perennial pressure to deliver profits at all costs. Businesses must thrive financially, but the pursuit of profit can sometimes cast a shadow over the values of Conscious Leadership. How does one navigate this delicate balance?

Breakthrough: Conscious Leaders must redefine success beyond mere financial metrics. Engaging stakeholders in a conversation about shared values and long-term sustainability can create a foundation for a new definition of success. By aligning financial goals with ethical considerations, a Conscious Leader charts a course toward a value driven mission and a balanced, sustainable future.

Challenge 2: The Shareholder Dilemma

Shareholders, with their keen eye on returns, often pose a challenge to the implementation of Conscious Leadership. Balancing the expectations of investors with the broader responsibilities to employees, communities, and the environment is a tightrope walk for many leaders.

Breakthrough: Conscious Leaders can open a transparent dialogue with shareholders about the long-term benefits of ethical practices. Demonstrating that Conscious Leadership is not just morally sound but also financially astute can foster a shift in shareholder expectations. Transparency and communication become the anchors that keep the ship steady in these turbulent waters.

Challenge 3: The Cultural Shift Conundrum

Implementing Conscious Leadership requires a cultural shift within organisations—a shift that is not always met with open arms. Legacy systems and ingrained structures may resist change, creating a challenge for leaders aspiring to introduce conscious practices.

Breakthrough: Cultivating a culture of openness and adaptability is crucial. Leaders can champion initiatives that encourage continuous learning and flexibility. By fostering an environment that values experimentation and embraces the lessons from both successes and failures, a Conscious Leader paves the way for a culture that thrives on conscious principles and where the individuals is given greater permission to bring their whole self to work.

Challenge 4: The Pressure for Rapid Growth

In a world obsessed with growth, the pressure to expand rapidly can stifle conscious decision-making. Leaders may find themselves entangled in the pursuit of expansion at the cost of ethical and conscious considerations.

Breakthrough: Conscious Leaders must redefine growth beyond sheer numbers. Prioritising sustainable and ethical growth, even if it means slower expansion, lays the groundwork for a resilient and enduring organisation. Leaders can inspire their teams with a vision that transcends immediate gains, emphasising the journey toward a purpose-driven destination. For too long, countless employees have felt the need to compromise their personal integrity and values to make a decent living. Conscious Leaders offer an alternative, enrolling people in a vision they can feel proud to walk towards.

Challenge 5: The Fear of Vulnerability

Conscious Leadership often demands vulnerability—admitting mistakes, acknowledging shortcomings, and learning from them. In a corporate landscape that often stigmatises failure, leaders may be hesitant to embrace their vulnerability.

Breakthrough: Vulnerability is not a weakness but a strength. Conscious Leaders can lead by example, showcasing the power of vulnerability in fostering trust and collaboration. By creating a safe space for authenticity, leaders encourage their teams to embrace vulnerability as a catalyst for growth and transformation.

Challenge 6: The Lack of Awareness

In the rush of daily operations, leaders may find themselves unaware of the principles of Conscious Leadership or unsure of how to integrate them into business practices.

Breakthrough: Education is key. Conscious Leaders can invest in training programs and initiatives that promote awareness and understanding of Conscious Leadership principles. By providing resources and guidance, leaders empower their teams to collectively embark on the journey of Conscious Leadership.

As we navigate these challenges, it becomes evident that Conscious Leadership is not a destination but a dynamic process of continuous learning and adaptation. By embracing the breakthroughs mentioned above, leaders can usher in a new era of leadership—one that transcends the traditional boundaries of profit-centric models and aligns with the deeper values that define our shared humanity.

And with that in mind, and knowing there is a great deal at stake, let us chart a course that not only leads to success in the boardroom but also cultivates a conscious, compassionate, and sustainable future for all.

By Neil Seligman, The Conscious Professional

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

2. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.

3. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post Overcoming Conscious Leadership Challenges appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

The greatest speeches in the world have all been delivered with such passion, eloquence, and apparent ease. A good speech can change hearts, inspire hearts, and stir emotions. This is why actually doing one yourself can be very daunting.

Public speaking is a real skill but is not always considered as such when it is thrust upon somebody who may not feel too hot about it. Writing your speech is one thing, but today we are interested in the other, the action of delivering one in a confident manner.

If you are a first-time speaker, or indeed somebody who has spoken many times, but just finds the anxiety of the whole thing very unpleasant, here are some mindful thoughts on how to make the experience a bit easier… and maybe even a bit more enjoyable!

1.     Preparation

First of all, I find that the less prepared I am, the worse the butterflies are. If I go into a meeting, pitch or public address feeling that I do not have all my bases covered, then nerves are a problem. Freefalling is no fun at all!

Preparation is everything. Being aware that you have the knowledge to deal with questions, know your speech inside out, and have confidence in your ability to handle all of the possible things that could go wrong, is priceless. Of course, this is easier with experience, which is preparation in itself. But it doesn’t become easier by itself.

Going into a situation knowing that you have done everything possible to prepare for the moment should mean that you have addressed everything that is under your control. As for the stuff that you can’t control… well, you can’t control it, so try not to let it worry you!

2.     Meditation

There are several direct benefits of meditation on your public speaking. Anxiety, when it comes to addressing an audience in any way, is often due to your inner voice getting in your way. You spend days and weeks before the event beating yourself up with speculation. What if they don’t like me? What if I’m not funny? What if something breaks or goes wrong?

Daily meditations in the days leading up to the speech can go a long way to softening those jabs of anxiety.

This practice might also help you feel more relaxed and spontaneous during your speech. This is very attractive to a speaker. The skill of meditation helps to orient you ‘in the moment’. A perfect state for encouraging witty flourishes and reactions.

3.     Relaxation

Everything is easier if you manage to relax. What triggers relaxation for you? Perhaps a pre-speech workout? A hot shower? A stress ball, even? Whatever it is, make sure you use it to enter your speech with your heart pumping at a reasonable pace!

Having said that, these things may not be useful in the moments directly before your speech. So, breathe. Close your eyes, let go of any thoughts of what you are about to do, and breathe slowly and deeply. Concentrate on your breath, and feel your heart slow right down. All your preparation is done, all that matters now is starting from a place of stability and relaxation. Then open your eyes, smile, and walk out to that audience with confidence!

4.     Use Your Emotions

Sometimes, if nerves cannot be eradicated, it works better to try and use them.

Although nerves are uncomfortable, they can be useful. The nerves you feel immediately before a speech are a catalyst for the adrenaline that follows. So, don’t wish them all away!

However, as you may experience, too many nerves are crippling. When they are getting in the way, it might be prudent to apply a little knowledge and logic. If it is not your first time, then you know that the nerves are temporary, remind yourself of that. In my experience, they disappear as soon as I am faced with an audience.

What also helps is to focus on the moment beyond the end of your speech. I have heard myself say, ‘It’ll be done in 20 minutes time’, on many occasions, as a measure of self-reassurance. Distracting your feelings in this way can be very helpful.

But whatever nerves you have left, use them to really begin your speech with energy and enthusiasm.

By Chris Thomson

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

2. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.

3. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post Public Speaking for the Conscious Speaker appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

“Don’t let the bearers of bad news become the pallbearers of your happiness.” – Stewart Stafford

We don’t like to have bad things happen at work, or in any other walk of life for that matter. However, difficult situations present themselves to all of us, and there is really nothing that can be done about that. Unpleasant news can mean anything from laying off an employee, letting someone know that a promotion has not gone their way, or issues with a customer or client.

Whether you are part of a team or a leader in your workplace, there will be times when you will have to pass uncomfortable news on to co-workers and employees or tackle unpleasant situations with them. we may not be able to avoid this needing to happen, but we can avoid doing it in a way that makes the situation worse.

There is an art to delivering bad news, and a conscious leader, or employee for a conscious business, must try to perfect the art mindfully and empathetically. Good technique might not eliminate the discomfort, but it may well soften the blow.

So… our thought on the matter…

1.     Don’t Procrastinate

Don’t put off delivering the bad news. This affects your mental state as well as the impact it will have on the person receiving the news. You cannot be productive and comfortable in your work with the issue weighing on your mind. The built-up tension will also inevitably make it harder to control your approach when you actually manage to get around to doing the deed. 

2.     Don’t Small Talk

So, the person is sitting in front of you. Try not to skirt around things with small talk. Keep the conversation concise and focused… get straight to the point. Not only is this respectful to the employee or team member, but it also cuts down the period of uncomfortable anticipation.

3.     Practice

Don’t go into it cold. Be conscious that the awkwardness of the situation may cause you to falter, stutter, tumble over words or lose your train of thought. In order to make the interaction as clear and concise as possible, it won’t hurt to practice, out loud, the information you need to deliver.

4.     Be Kind

Receiving bad news is, generally, much worse than being the one to give it. Be conscious that the news you are handing over to the other person, whatever you think of them, is going to have an impact on their wellbeing. Approach the subject with as much empathy and understanding as you can. Also, consider whether there is anything you can do to help them or make them feel more comfortable in that moment.

5.     Why?

If the information you are passing on is regarding a decision you have had to make, ensure that you provide context for it. Why was the decision made? What events led to that decision? Provide any related information that might make it easier for the other party to be clear about what has happened and why.

6.     Give the Subject Time

Don’t expect a reaction or response from the person to whom you are giving the news. Let them know that it is OK to take their time to process. Indeed, you might even want to suggest that they go away to process the information and come back when they have managed to formulate a response to it that they are happy with, having thought about it for a while.

7.     Talk About What Comes Next

Do not leave them cold without a thing to grab hold of. Detail what comes next. Talk about how you and they might move on from the conversation and offer any guidance or advice you might have for them going forward.

By Chris Thomson

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

2. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.

3. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post 7 Tips for Delivering Bad News at Work appeared first on The Conscious Professional.

As always, the conference featured an impressive line-up of speakers, including Chris Plowman, CEO of Insight Timer, who delivered an inspiring talk on the role of technology in promoting meditation and the challenges that his company has faced on the path to profitability with integrity – they are almost there! He also offered a timely and passionate critique of the big tech players, whose growing control of the algorithms that shape human behaviour are folding in more and more powerful AI capabilities, without sufficient due diligence to keep us protected from unintended harms. 

Byron Katie, author of ‘Loving What Is’ and one of my all-time favourite teachers shared her transformative technique of inquiry and self-reflection. If you haven’t discovered her work before – find a few of her YouTube videos and see her in action. The process appears simple but has multiple layers and much to offer in the way of freedom from suffering. I was lucky enough to speak with her one-to-one – thanking her for her work – and then experience a Byron Katie hug! Imagine the Universe seeing itself in the mirror – time and form dissolving into pure love. It was an exquisite gift that has stayed with me.

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI and creator of ChatGPT, spoke about the ethical implications of artificial intelligence whilst being interviewed by the renowned Buddhist teacher Jack Kornfield (author of ‘After The Ecstasy, The Laundry’). Having recently watched the AI Dilemma presented by the Center For Humane Technology: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoVJKj8lcNQ I was ready to see something of a showdown. This wasn’t what happened, but the impact of the talk was reassuring overall. 

Jack has been mentoring Sam for a few years helping him as he questioned the nature of consciousness in relation to the emergent AI capabilities. Sam decided to release ChatGPT publicly to create a public discourse around AI and educate people about its capabilities. (I agree that this was the right step rather than continuing to develop it in secret). And yet we must be very clear that this is a watershed moment for humanity and our next steps will define our future. 

As the world grasps the nature of AI and starts to see how it changes everything, we must quickly evolve the laws, regulatory frameworks, and higher ethics that give us the best chance of co-creating the future. We must remember that the core value of our civilisation is love and human connection and the one thing that AI cannot replace. Corporations must temper their greed thrust and come together with the wider world to transition mindfully. I believe this is possible – but the difficult conversations must happen now.

Beyond the AI conversation and keynote teachers, I was particularly delighted by the presence of indigenous speakers such as Dr. Lyla June Johnston and Dr. Yuria Celidwen who brought the deep wisdom of land and spirit to the conversation. They reminded us of the interconnectedness of all beings and the need to honour and protect our planet and its biodiversity. They spoke of Indigenous Science in a way that was absolutely fascinating and made me rethink the whole premise of science and civilisation as I know it. My conclusion – humanity has so much to learn about stewardship from those that have lived for so long in harmony with the environment. Their voices must be amplified at this time as our environment continues to be degraded by our collectively unconscious behaviours.

Beyond all of the wisdom sharing, perhaps most of all, what keeps drawing me back across the Atlantic to dip into this community of conscious leaders is the sense of the collective intention that drives all those that come to grow in self-awareness and to share their learnings with their network, their clients, their families. It is rare for me to find a community that feels so coherent in its goals and ambitious in its efforts. It is a joy to be amongst them.

Overall, I left the Wisdom 2.0 Conference 2023 feeling energised and grateful for the opportunity to connect with so many of my fellow conscious professionals – new friends and old. The conference reinforced my belief in the power of wisdom and technology to create a more balanced, mindful, and compassionate world. I look forward to attending next year’s event and continuing to contribute to this important conversation. I hear it will be back in the Bay Area next year. 

Perhaps see you there?

Neil Seligman

P.S. Whenever you are ready… here are 4 ways we can support your personal and professional Conscious Goals:

1. Learn To Meditate With Neil In Just 10 Days!

Zen in Ten, our flagship online course, is a ten-day mindfulness challenge for people who need to slow down.

2. Work With Neil One-To-One

See if a Coaching Partnership or Professional Wellbeing Appointment is right for you. Book a 15-minute discovery call with Neil Seligman here.

3. Bring The Conscious Professional To Your Business

See if The Conscious Professional training and coaching programmes are right for your team or workplace. Book a call here.

The Conscious Professional is dedicated to delivering inspiring corporate mindfulness and professional resilience training, conscious leadership coaching and workplace wellbeing services at the level of professional excellence. Thank you for following our blog.

The post Wisdom 2.0 2023 in Review appeared first on The Conscious Professional.