Maria Gonzalez - Mindful Leadership: The 9 Ways to Self-Awareness, Transforming Yourself, and Inspiring Others

Tremendous! Today we live in what are unquestionably interesting times, where success ultimately depends on our ability to devote all of our intelligence, creativity, and energy to the present moment. Maria Gonzalez's inspiring new book provides us with a holistic guide to leadership. Its nine specific ways of being are brilliant in their simplicity and will guide us on the road to achieving our personal and professional dreams.

Peter R. Schaefer, President and CEO, Hannover Life
Reassurance Company of America

This is a down-to-earth and realistic guide to becoming a great leader and a better, happier human being. It is the most readable and motivating book on leadership that I have read in a very long time. It demystifies both mindfulness and leadership by giving easy-to-follow examples and exercises. Whether you are a CEO or just starting your career, this book will give you some simple ways to start to improve your performance today.

Janet Martin, President, Janet C. Martin Management
(and former EVP, Retail Banking CIBC)

Mindful Leadership is a serious guide to helping you reset and reshape your crackdown rhythms in a manner that allows for a richer and more meaningful lifepersonally and professionally! It provides great tips and techniques to help make more sense out of one's fuzzy set and encourages you to accept, adopt, and adapt to current conditions. In summary, Mindful Leadership positions you to lead and live with greater confidence and increased clarity.

Mike Pado, CEO, Aurigen USA Holdings Inc.

I love this book. It is very easy to read and understand, and a great guide to achieve clarity and purpose in what is truly important to you and your business. Whether you prefer to learn step-by-step or by allowing information to wash over you, the techniques can't help but benefit anyone who wants to lead well. The insights and practical tools in Mindful Leadership are invaluable for anyone who wants to be a good leader in all aspects of their lifework and personal.

Rob Quartly, Juno AwardWinning Filmmaker and
Entrepreneur

Copyright 2012 Maria Gonzalez

All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any meansgraphic, electronic, or mechanical without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any request for photocopying, recording, taping or information storage and retrieval systems of any part of this book shall be directed in writing to The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright license, visit www.accesscopyright.ca or call toll-free 18008935777.

Care has been taken to trace ownership of copyright material contained in this book. The publisher will gladly receive any information that will enable them to rectify any reference or credit line in subsequent editions.

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication

Gonzalez, Maria, 1958

Mindful leadership: The 9 ways to self-awareness, transforming yourself,

and inspiring others / Maria Gonzalez.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 9781118127117

1. LeadershipPsychological aspects. 2. Meditation.

I. Title.

HD57.7.G65 2012 658.4'092 C20119073757

ISBN 9781118128183 (ebk); 9781118128190 (ebk);

9781118128206 (ebk)

Production Credits

Interior design: Pat Loi

Cover design: Adrian So

Cover photo credits: Thinkstock/Hemera

Production Editor: Lindsay Humphreys

Typesetter: Thomson Digital

John Wiley & Sons Canada, Ltd.

6045 Freemont Blvd.

Mississauga, Ontario

L5R 4J3

This book is dedicated to my family:
Gaetano, Alvarina, and Peanut;
and my teachers:
Shinzen Young and Joshu Sasaki Roshi

Acknowledgments

It takes a great deal of inspiration and support to write a book, and I have been blessed to have both. I have had the good fortune of having numerous mindful leaders in my life who have each been an inspiration in their own way.

I would like to thank a number of people who supported the creation of this book. They include:

My husband, Gaetano Geretto, who is one of the most mindful leaders I have ever met. He is an inspiration to me. I am deeply grateful for his constant support, advice, encouragement, and meticulous proofreading. I am blessed to share my life with a bodhisattva. He is one of those rare people who exhibits deep grace regardless of circumstance and who inspires others to greatness. His insights about leadership have been invaluable. Without his unwavering support this book could not have been written.

My mother, Alvarina Gonzalez, who has exhibited more personal leadership throughout her life than anyone I have known. She is the first bodhisattva I ever knew. I am deeply grateful for her strength, encouragement, compassion, and support. This book would not have been possible without her.

Peanut has been my loyal and constant companion during the entire writing process and has taught me a great deal about wisdom, compassion, and pure love.

Joshu Sasaki Roshi, who has shown me ultimate potential. He sets the highest of standards, and I am deeply grateful for his teaching; it has been invaluable. In his 105th year of life he exemplifies mindful leadership in every breath.

My teacher, Shinzen Young, for his skillful coaching, support, and infinite patience. He is a gifted teacher and mindful leader who makes the incomprehensible comprehensible and simple, but, of course, not too simple. His innovative mindfulness techniques have made the 2,500-year-old science of the mind accessible to our contemporary culture. Several of Shinzen's teachings are contained and cited in Chapter 2 and some of his techniques are described in Chapter 3. You can visit his website at www.basicmindfulness.org and view him on YouTube on the Expansion and Contraction channel.

Diana Byron, for her flawless editing, support, and skillful eye. Every book requires a great editor, and she is unparalleled. This book could not have been published without her.

Peter Pacini has made possible the Mindful Leadership blog, newsletter, and audio recordings of guided meditations that accompany this book. His support has been invaluable. He is a pleasure to work with and has enthusiasm, compassion, and a can-do attitude like none other.

Susan Smith, for her research, presence of mind, compassion, and ongoing support.

Janet Martin, for her insights on leadership. She is a mindful leader in her own right.

It has been a pleasure and privilege to coach hundreds of business leaders and professionals, as well as those who have participated regularly in my classes, workshops, and retreats. Their dedication to living and working mindfully has been an inspiration for this book.

The entire team at Wiley. Particular thanks go to Karen Milner, executive editor, for her enthusiasm, flexibility, and encouragement throughout the process and for her support for this project; she immediately understood the value in the message. And to Jennifer Smith, vice president and publisher, for her foresight in believing in this project. Once again, she understood that these times require out-of-the-mainstream thinking applied to the mainstream in order to help us move forward, and she knew that it would benefit readers to hear the message.

Part 1

Mindfulness

Chapter 1

Overview

Since the fall of 2008 we have seen trillions of dollars disappear from the global economy, causing a substantial restructuring. Indeed, few economies, organizations, or institutions in the world have been spared. Never in recent history have we had so much and lost so much. This is resulting in new realities for, and new expectations from, the global population. Through this economic crisis and its aftermath, many people have experienced disappointment in their leaders, whether they are business leaders, government leaders, celebrities, or top athletes.