Sage Robbins | The Results You Seek Start with the People You Lead: Conscious Leadership with Sage

?“There’s a real hunger in the workforce today and it’s a unique juxtaposition; people want their autonomy, but they also long to be connected, seen, appreciated, and feel like a part of something.” – Sage Robbins

The following is a guest post from Sage Robbins, author, speaker, mentor and wife of Tony Robbins.

Many of you reading this have the natural ability to lead people, yet few of us willingly take on the task. ?

Why is that????

Plain and simple, it’s because true leadership – conscious leadership – is a decision to serve others. ??

I too have the privilege of serving in a leadership role, and this topic moves me to the conversation today simply because it’s that important. And because leadership is not only a necessary aspect in business, but also essential in parenting, teaching, mentoring, and coaching across all contexts. ??

In short, leaders make our whole world go around.??

As leaders, we receive a unique invitation. And with it comes great responsibility. ??

We are called upon to hold a vision for our team (our business, our company, our clients, our family) and we are tasked to guide, serve, support, nurture, and empower those individuals so that – collectively and harmoniously – we move toward a shared goal together. ?

Power not Force?

First, let’s dispel the notion of a so-called leader driven by the need for control and domination. We all know that history’s dictators have never made great leaders. Why? Because their approach breeds resistance. No one can do their best work in a state of fear and intimidation. We human beings need to trust our leaders, and when we do, our best work can come through.??

Conscious leaders are those who naturally strike a balance of confidence and humility. They exhibit an assured – but not oppressive – strength. ?

It should also be noted that just because someone is in a position of authority doesn’t mean they are a great leader. And on the other hand, just because someone is not in a position of authority, doesn’t mean they’re not an exemplary leader.?

No matter?a person’s?position or personality, great leaders seek to provide their team with certainty through their own congruent conduct and earnest commitment. That’s the essence of who they really are. You can’t fake that stuff. And if we do, people feel the difference.?

Conscious leaders choose to live in integrity and that makes their people want to enroll in the mission, stand in their own power, and pitch in.??

How beautiful is that??

What is leadership if not recognizing and guiding others toward their own unique greatness? What a gift to be able to support our teammates and foster a culture of self-directed shining stars. ?

Who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like that????

Great leadership doesn’t push itself onto its employees – it doesn’t have to – it makes the vision so clear and compelling that the very spirit of the movement is something that naturally pulls people toward it and inspires their best efforts.

A Vacancy of the Heart??

The truth is, there are many ways to get a job done; but great leaders choose differently, thoughtfully, creatively, and effectively.???

The problem, or opportunity as I see it, is that there is a vacancy in modern society when it comes to human connectedness in the workplace.??

The latest Gallup State of the Local Workplace report found that work-related stress levels are soaring to all-time highs, and according to a study from The American Family Life Assurance Company of Columbus (Aflac), more than half of U.S. workers are reporting burnout. ??

As someone who seeks to engage our own team of both in-house and remote colleagues, what this signals to me is that there’s a real hunger in the workforce today and it’s a unique juxtaposition; people want their autonomy, but they also long to feel connected, seen, appreciated, and feel a part of something. Something to belong to that inspires them to give their gifts and best efforts. ?

Jon Clifton, CEO of Gallup asked an important question – and as leaders do, offered a solution too:??

"What can leaders do today to potentially save the world? Change the way your people are managed."??

I wholeheartedly agree. And I use that word deliberately. Let me explain.?

At times we as leaders are managing so much that we can innocently get stuck in believing that productivity, sales, traffic, or revenue goals should be our driving focus. ?

Sure, we must keep an eye on the ball, but I’d like to offer a complementary approach.??

First, consider that many of us spend more time with our co-workers than we do with our own families. ?

That’s an indication of how much we value and care about the work that we do. So why not create a culture whose focus is benevolent, connected, heart-centered, and life-affirming? A culture that reaches out to each other, leans in, stays present, and brings not only intelligence but also the power of the heart and generously offers its gifts to each other.??

The question isn’t why – it’s why wouldn’t we? ??

It awakens a sense of aliveness and presence to bring oneself fully to any moment.?

Living in our heads is a surefire path to burnout. It’s exhausting. We’ve all been there. But in the space of co-creation and flow, true connections are born. ?

When we live from our hearts, there is a playfulness and passion infused in our work; there’s an aligned vision, a common mission, and the recognition that we each have our own unique puzzle piece to bring to the table. This is the elixir to all those dreary post-pandemic, quiet-quitting workplace surveys. ??

It is our nature as humans to feel invigorated and in-the-flow when we thoughtfully connect and offer what we are here to give. Flow is where unbounded energy, fresh ideas, and innovative creation take place. ?

Flow is where we see results.??

So where do we start???

We start by empowering people. One of the easiest ways to do that is simply by making people feel seen for their gifts.??

That’s the heart of conscious leadership: creating a culture that truly honors one another’s unique gifts.??

When we look at the world stage, there can be a perception of leadership as a power dynamic, as if to say, I’m the boss, I’m in charge of these people.??

Conscious leadership begins the day we understand that those we lead are there to guide us, show us, and teach us as much about ourselves as we reflect and mirror back to others.??

Start by shedding old beliefs about what it means to be in charge.???

Going first??

As a conscious leader, being in charge really means overseeing ourselves, our mindset, our reactions, communications, and attitude.??

Conscious leaders recognize that the burden of responsibility falls squarely on us first. It’s the state we bring to every interaction and conversation. It’s our ability to build rapport with people, to care about others, and understand the ripple of our influence.??

To do that, we must be willing to take responsibility and hold ourselves accountable for the energy we bring to any space. ?

Leadership is an inside-out job. It starts from within.??

We cannot help others rise above the noise, stress, and distractions of the human mind if we are not showing up with clarity of direction, kindness, and the wisdom to uproot any limiting beliefs that keep us from doing our own best work.??

We can mentor with our words (conscious leaders must certainly be willing to wade in and have difficult conversations), but beyond words, mentoring is in the mirror. ?

What I mean by that is: What are you reflecting to your team, your family, and the world around you? ?

Are you adding to the schism and confusion out there, or are you looking to bring understanding, diplomacy, grace, and coherence???

It’s easy for human beings to get caught up in the stories and feed the schisms. What sets conscious leaders apart from the crowd is their ability to create harmony among diverse voices.?

Ask yourself: Am I harmonizing this situation or are my words and actions adding to the upset?

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work??

I don’t always choose the most impressive resume when hiring for our teams or leadership positions. Instead, I tend to lean toward those who show a sense of willingness, openness, conscientiousness, flexibility, and a real hunger to contribute and grow. ?

From my own experience, there's no better predictors of long-term success. As leaders, it’s our job to recognize and acknowledge these treasures when we see them in someone. When people like that feel valued and supported, they don’t just stay – they soar. ?

Passing on an impressive resume might seem counterintuitive, but I've learned over the years that even exceptional leaders can’t change someone’s innate personality. All we can do is create an environment that fosters engagement in a team of eager contributors. ?

That’s not a little thing; that’s a big thing.?

Conscious leaders understand that the river of service flows in all directions and when open-hearted people receive our support and feel genuinely acknowledged for their gifts, they naturally want to reciprocate. ?

That’s not business school; that’s just human nature.???

A Real-Life Example??

The level of thoughtfulness, connectedness, and contribution I experience from our teams truly humbles me every day of my life. Of course, we experience differences and dynamics – human beings will do what human beings do – but let me give you one example of how thoughtfulness and conscious connection can transform and deescalate a typical situation.???

Just a few weeks ago I received an email from a colleague complaining about another employee and expressing the desire to quit all together because of the clash.??

Resisting the urge to react in that moment, I took a pause to reflect.??

Instead of jumping to the upset employee who had written the email or to the employee in discord, I started with myself.? I looked to see what each of them might be feeling, what each might be experiencing, and what else was going on here.????

I was reminded that what happens in the workplace is the same thing happening in the world right now: we polarize, generalize, distort, demonize, and blame others. ?

Once people become divided and you’re locked in a stalemate of blame, you don’t give yourself many options. But life offers us the choice to take a breath, bring our attention back to this moment, and step out of the reaction. From this perspective, we have the power to go first and break the pattern.?

What do I mean by “go first?”? ?

It’s just a willingness to put our own misses and shortcomings on the table and take responsibility for anything that might have caused a disruption.??

As a conscious leader, we are willing to rise above our egoic patterns and recognize our own blind spots.??

• What might I be missing here???
• What do they want me to understand???
• What could I do that would feel supportive????
• Amidst the complaint or confusion, what is the underlying request??

This kind of conscious, connected approach creates a space of non-friction, less resistance, and more alignment.? From that place, the employee’s email is no longer another thing I have to deal with. It’s no longer a problem, it’s just an opportunity for growth and evolution.???

To finish the story, we had an employee get-together just a few days ago and that team member who was the subject of the complaint came to the person who wrote me the email and offered a sincere apology in-person. ?

Wholeheartedly.???

That’s the power of creating this kind of culture.?

I expressed gratitude for this level of openness and communication, and it was beautifully received by both parties. The employee that almost quit is like a new person, full of life, and reinvigorated in their role all because he felt seen and heard. And because the teammate took sincere responsibility in a true desire to reconcile the situation. ?

We can all point our finger outward in blame at what another is or isn’t doing but all have another option: to bring a greater awareness to any situation. ?

When we decide to do that, when we open our hearts in service, leadership becomes less about solving problems.??

Problem-centric leadership is an outdated model. Conscious leaders know that problems are opportunities to heal and grow.?

Problems in the workplace are simply pain points saying, “I need your attention. Please bring your heart, creativity and focus to this.” Much like an injury in the body or discord?in a relationship, it’s the same in business. ?

The key is having a willingness to see it differently.??

And that can change the world.??

Sage Robbins

P.S. Tony Robbins, you bold and courageous one. Thank you for going first, paving the way for us to claim our true nature and use our lives to be a force for good in the world. ?

Thank you to our incredible team for your puzzle pieces and continued contributions to this mission – you teach me every day. Special thanks to Mary B, for your brilliance, you are the glass to my flowing water.??

We are all better together. May we lead and be led in this way.?

Leadership is powerful. We commend those who lead with integrity. We honor you. With small business week being this month, Tony and Sage wanted to extend a special gift to you. Attend Tony’s free business event this Friday May 10,?to ignite explosive growth in your business.?