Cultivating Leadership Presence through Mindfulness

As leaders in an organization, we are charged with the responsibility of creating environments in which our employees are nurtured and energized, our businesses innovate and flourish, our customers are engaged partners and the relationship with our consumers/clients/patients is built on a foundation of mutual trust and satisfaction.

This is quite a complex assignment in a world and global economy that measures time in internet seconds, conceives of the past as the most reliable tool for analyzing and assessing how to proceed into the future, is increasingly interdependent and relational, and dedicates little or no time toward the development of presence in its leaders.

Presence is a dynamic and fluid sense of being fully present in body and mind, heart and soul and knowing it. This program is an opportunity for business leaders to experientially explore mindfulness training as a systematic discipline that cultivates our innate ability to be present. Organizational leaders suggest that mindfulness has assisted them in learning to:

• direct and sustain attention,
• become less reactive,
• understand first hand, the relationship between outward and inward knowing,
• step out of outmoded or imprisoning mental constructs,
• “catch” emerging insights and innovative ideas,
• deliberately stop – often in the midst of fast-paced, highly charged business situations - and ask themselves the question, “What is called for now?” rather than falling back on habitual patterns and habits, and
• become increasingly familiar with a deep and abiding awareness.

A unique opportunity for business leaders to experience and learn about mindfulness is coming to the Twin Cities area in September 2009. Modeled after the Twin Cities Programs attended by leaders of more than 25 prominent organizations, as well as the program that has trained 121 officers and directors at General Mills, this intensive 4 day program will provide an opportunity for business leaders to learn about, and more importantly, to experience mindfulness training from the world-renowned Center for Mindfulness at the University of Massachusetts.

Program Specifics:

The Cultivating Leadership Presence retreat scheduled for September 23-27, 2009 in Trego, WI is now full.

Preliminary information about the next retreat is as follows. Additional details will be posted in the near future:

This is a by-invitation only event for business leaders. Space is limited. For more information, please email Rene Theberge.