by Mike Rosen
My chosen profession is teaching, specifically elementary school. This hasn’t always been the case, my undergraduate degree is in Finance (pronounced fuh-nance when you’re degreed) and my perspective changed when I became a Dad. ThDropping my oldest off at Kindergarten on Day 1 simultaneously terrified me and informed a path where I chose to switch careers to teach. There’s a familial history in the profession and 2 of my 4 siblings do too.
It’s been well over a decade since I’ve made the switch and I’m lucky to have landed in an environment that emphasizes connection over content. An environment that prioritizes student well-being and personal growth over accomplishment and standardized test scores. In addition to being comparatively progressive in terms of its student-centric focus, my public school district also supports growth and evolution for us teachers. For example, there’s a new program which offers free Graduate-level classes to teachers to help us move lanes in our salary matrix.
In addition to taking classes for free, we also have the opportunity to teach them. Reflecting on my own evolution, it occurred to me how beneficial the teachings of the Conscious Leadership Group have been. From the concept of Above/Below the Line to the Drama Triangle to Radical Responsibility, all of them have a place in my own growth. My Administration eagerly accepted my proposal to teach a 3-Credit class centered around the teachings of CLG. Click here to learn more if you need a refresher or introduction,
One of their primary resources are the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, listed below.
01. Responsibility: Take 100% responsibility for your circumstances, well-being, and actions without blaming yourself or others.
02. Curiosity: Choose to learn and grow from every interaction instead of focusing on being right.
03. Feelings: Experience, locate, and process emotions physically through the body to completion rather than repressing them.
04. Candor: Speak your personal truth openly and honestly, while creating an environment where others feel safe to do the same.
05. Gossip-Free: End gossip by speaking directly and only with the person with whom you have an issue.
06. Integrity: Align your thoughts, feelings, and actions, and be impeccable with your agreements
07. Appreciation: Regularly express authentic appreciation for the people and circumstances in your life
08. Win for All: Create solutions that support the well-being and success of everyone involved rather than operating in a zero-sum mentality.
09. Zone of Genius: Identify and spend your time doing what you do best and love most, while supporting others to do the same.
10. The Opponent as Teacher: View those who trigger or oppose you as valuable teachers offering insights into your own unexamined patterns.
11. Enough: Trust and embrace that there is always “enough” of what you need (like time, money, and resources).
12. The Whole Body Yes: Make decisions using your entire system—mind, emotions, and body intuition—rather than just intellectual logic.
13. Alignment Over Agreement: Prioritize deep alignment on vision and purpose over superficial consensus or agreement
14. Life of Play: Commit to living a life oriented around play, rest, and creativity rather than stress and obligation.
15. Surrender: Let go of the need to control outcomes and trust the unfolding process of life and work
In an effort to prep for teaching my Fall class I’ve been revisiting the ideas and concepts and it’s been refreshing. Some feel very ingrained and natural(#s 7, 10, and 14), some I’m still working on (#s 9, 11, and 13) and all have a place for me.
Are you familiar with the work of the Conscious Leadership Group? Which of the 15 (if any) feel ingrained and part of your fabric? Which don’t feel as natural?
Please share in the Comment section below!
