The workplace has changed tremendously because of the ongoing digital transformation, multigenerational expectations, and the rise of the gig economy. The more challenging thing about this is that the workplace industry is still changing and is expected to do so in the next few years. Conscious change leadership is a powerful tool that can overcome these challenges that will shape the future of work.
What is Conscious Change Leadership?
Conscious leadership is a driver of change that will shape the future of work. Four elements make this possible:
- Conscious leaders have mastered the art of self-awareness.
- Conscious leaders are conscious of how others feel and have empathy.
- Conscious leaders are aware of the systems in which they operate and lead.
- Conscious leaders use their skills and awareness to benefit a greater whole.
The above qualities of conscious change leadership are what are vital in shaping the future of work. These qualities are also powerful in overcoming common challenges faced by an organization, especially ones that involve the employees and the human element of an organization.
In summary, conscious leaders exhibit the same characteristics and qualities they expect from the people that they work with. This conscious company culture fosters a healthy work environment where people thrive and grow in their respective roles.
This type of leadership also impacts the future of work because it looks at every employee in the company as a human being. You don’t look at people based on their position or rank in the company. It acknowledges that every person has a story to tell and that story humanizes every individual. Whether or not you realize it, those stories can have an impact on your professional behavior.
How does Conscious Leadership Shape the Future of Work?
Becoming an effective leader is no longer enough due to the ever-shifting workplace dynamics. With various ethnic and racial backgrounds, social preferences, and demographic differences in today’s workplace, leaders must be aware of these differences and promote connectedness within the workplace.
Conscious change leadership is the answer to this. But how does this kind of leadership make this happen?
1. Promote open communication and collaboration.
A conscious leadership style promotes a solution-focused approach to handling conflicts and workplace issues. A conscious leader solicits feedback from their employees to promote open communication in the process. Furthermore, the process of seeking feedback encourages collaboration so that everyone takes accountability for their work performance and their behavior towards their fellow employees.
2. Encourage self-awareness and empathy.
Conscious leaders are empathic leaders. They put themselves in the shoes of their employees so they understand how the latter feel. This empathy and awareness of their feelings will help leaders to respond to situations more effectively and establish a better connection with their team.
3. Make work expectations clear.
Open communication and becoming self-aware help everyone in the organization to be on the same page. When expectations are clear, you become more productive and you can optimize everyone’s performance.
4. Create a sense of belonging.
It is part of human nature to seek belongingness. Therefore, employees who feel like they belong are more productive in the organization. On the other hand, being excluded from the rest of the group can cause low productivity and confidence.
Conscious leadership is intentional in forging relationships with employees. This approach can make employees feel welcome and their efforts recognized and valued.
How to Develop Conscious Leadership
For leaders, the idea of shaping the future of work might seem overwhelming. It is important to know how you can be more intentional and take on a conscious approach in your leadership style to adapt to the changing workplace environment of the future.
The first thing that a leader must do is to look within themself. A leader can find a mentor or focus on building self-awareness so that they become more aware of the values that they project onto employees or co-workers.
Once you identify your values and close any gaps in your life, the next step is to foster a growth mindset. A growth mindset is essential in conscious leadership because it opens your eyes to the possibilities in the world, and those around you (which includes your co-workers or employees). When you seek growth and learning, you also aim for that from others and you encourage others to become and do better.
Finally, make an effort to see things from various perspectives. You should not look at the either-or framework when looking at things but instead, embrace that there might be more ways of looking at things. This mindset of a conscious leader provides a new way of solving things that benefits everyone involved.
