Mindful Leadership Course
January to April 2021
With the assistance of the CLRC, I was able to participate in a Mindful Leadership certificate program that reviewed the precepts of secular mindfulness and suggested how a daily mindfulness practice helps develop non-judgmental awareness and communication strategies that enhance leadership effectiveness.
The program introduced several mindfulness/meditation practices such as the fee based Headspace app, Dan Harris’ Meditation 101, the Aloha Spirit, and Animal Meditations and how mindfulness can increase can increase our resilience to stress, however, much of the content was based on John Kabat-Zinn’s Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) practice. His 10 Minute Guided Mindfulness Meditation is a good place to start as is his 9 Attitudes of Mindfulness.
One of the underlying themes of the program is the often destructive nature of our inner, critical voice and the presentation of techniques to acknowledge the inner monologue, recognize its physiological effects, silence that voice, and return to the present situation. John Kabat-Zinn returns to discuss non-judgment and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie reminds us of the Danger of a Single Story when that inner, critical voice starts judging others.
As we become more mindfully present, Celeste Headlee offers insights on 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation. (If you only have time to listen to one presentation, choose this one.) Next up is Dana Caspersen with Conflict is a Place of Possibility for those of us who do whatever it takes to avoid stressful conversations.
The program concluded with the idea that personal development is required for cultural development towards a more emotionally-intelligent, compassionate, and just society by referencing Angela Acosta’s webinar, Contemplating 400 Years of Inequality, and Rhoda Magee, John Kabat-Zinn, and Anderson Cooper’s panel, A Mindful Approach to Race and Social Justice.
Cristina Pope
Director, SUNY Upstate Health Sciences Library
Are you interested in being our next Professional Development Award recipient? Check out the award page for the rules & requirements!