July at the ALC

Authentic Leadership Summer Program Begins June 4 View this email in your browser July 2018 - In This Issue: JULY AT THE AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP CENTER MESSAGE FROM SUSAN SKJEI AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP SUMMER PROGRAM STEPPING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE WINNER FOR JUNE ARE YOU AUTHENTIC?  GETTING ALONG WITH DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES MINDFUL AT WORK FOUNDATIONS OF AUTHENTIC LEADERSHIP   July at the Authentic Leadership Center Message from Susan Skjei Dear Leaders,  What is presence and why is it important for leaders?  Presence is difficult to measure but we know it when we see it. Or, more accurately, when we feel it.  A leader who is present is focused, attentive and engaged.  When we experience this kind of leader the quality of their presence inspires us to be more present as well.  It may sound a bit like charisma, but presence is not based on personality or style so much as self-awareness and empathy for others.  I remember when I worked at a large technology company and we had to lay off 20% of our workforce. The General Manager of our division had to break the bad news.  What impressed me about her was that she didn't flinch.  But she also didn't harden up.  She demonstrated presence in her ability to remain steady, communicate the situation clearly, and respond openly to the many emotions people were expressing—from relief that they might get a buy-out to anger that they might lose their jobs.  She created opportunities for everyone to voice their concerns as well as offer their suggestions for the transition.  At one point, she even shared her own experience about how this difficult decision had been.  Yes, she was being vulnerable, but not mushy--just direct and inclusive of all of the ways people were experiencing the news.  Mindfulness practice can help us cultivate our own leadership presence—especially in difficult situations.   This can be very beneficial in the workplace.  Typically when faced with a problem we try to think our way out of it.  Perhaps we mull it over and try to explore it from many different points of view.  We might recall times when something like this happened in the past or fantasize about future scenarios.  Occasionally this can be a helpful approach, but research has shown that we often come up with better solutions if we disengage from obsessive thinking and, instead become mindful of the fullness of our experience in that moment.  When we do this we get in touch with feelings of fear or anxiety that have been keeping our head spinning and face them directly.  Through mindfulness we can welcome them with a non-judgmental attitude.  When we bring mindful awareness to our actual experience we begin transmuting these feelings and developing empathy for what others may be experiencing as well.  Instead of reacting blindly to our feelings we can bring relaxation and curiosity to the moment and new possibilities and solutions can begin to arise. In addition, we experience a sense of well-being that comes from having been courageous.  With Gratitude, Susan Skjei, Ph.D. Authentic Leadership Summer Program Spring 2019 16-Weeks Online + Two 5-Day Seminars | Boulder, CO Activate your personal and professional transformation with this in-depth, 10-week experiential course. Learn the power of mindfulness and authentic communication for leading collaborative change. Learn More & Register Early Bird Pricing Currently Available  Register Now The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams. ~ Oprah Winfrey ~ Read More Jean-Jacques Joris Jean-Jacques Joris is a co-founder with his wife Isabelle, of Twin Oaks Farm, a holistic equine-assisted life and leadership counselling and coaching centre established in 2009, which offers a mindfulness-based equine-assisted psychotherapy. Congratulations our June Mindful at Work Winner!  Zuzana Masarykova Please be sure to check your email for notification and process. Are you authentic? Do you bring enough of yourself to work?  Authenticity boils down to being real. Not scripted, perfect, well-coiffed, or under control 100% of the time. Authentic leaders let an (appropriate) amount of who-they-are out of the bag. Read More...  Getting along with different personalities at work When it comes to collaborating effectively with co-workers, it helps to be aware of the different personality styles and to approach tasks accordingly. Read More...  Mindful at Work Enhance Well-Being, Collaboration and Results September 10th - November 3rd, 2018 | 8-weeks Online What if work was less effort and daily challenges felt lighter and more manageable? What if we could increase our capacity for focus, innovation, and collaboration? Mindfulness - an inherent human ability - is strengthened through awareness and practice. Learn More & Apply Free 7-Day Mini Course Join us for the next Free Webinar on July 11th, 2018. EARLY BIRD PRICING ENDS JULY 15TH, 2018   Foundations of Authentic Leadership Program Bring Who You Are To How You Lead October 5 - 7, 2018 | 3-days at Shambhala Mountain Center November 16-17, 2018 | 2 days in Chicago, IL Drawing on principles and practices from contemplative traditions as well as contemporary approaches to leadership and organizational learning, this program will foster deep personal insights, enhance interpersonal skills, and increase overall leadership effectiveness. Learn More & Apply EARLY BIRD PRICING AVAILABLE FOR CHICAGO Copyright © 2018 Authentic Leadership Center at Naropa University, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you've attended a Naropa University event in the past or visited eNaropa.org Our mailing address is: Authentic Leadership Center at Naropa University 2130 Arapahoe Ave Boulder, Co 80302 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? 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