A recent study shows unequivocally that conscious leaders—those who are most self-aware—produce better results than those who are narrow-minded and stuck in old paradigms. Here is a link to this fascinating and revealing study:
http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Research-Results-Nice-Guys-Finish-First-When-It-Comes-to-Company-Performance-1276170.htm

Why has it taken so long to figure this out? The reasons that come to mind shed light on some of the qualities of conscious leadership.

1. We grew up believing Leo Durocher’s motto when he was managing the Brooklyn Dodgers (yes, Brooklyn) 50 years ago: Nice guys finish last.
2. We are overly enamored with short-term results, at the expense of the long-term.
3. We live in a society that reveres hard-charging people like Henry Ford.
4. We see the world through a 40-foot straw.
5. Achievement is measured in quantitative terms and we forget that the journey matters as much as the destination.
6. We live in an overly masculine world that is imbalanced.
7. Nice leaders are not so newsworthy.

In a world such as this, it is hard to see what I believe is an inviolable truth: if you want sustainable results that add value to life as a whole, the only way to lead is to lead consciously.