The legal profession, just as any other profession, has immense room for growth. As lawyers we hold a lot of power – to bring about change, to protect, to uphold, to honour and to be the bearers of peace. The fight for good can only be enhanced if we enter that fight consciously, and we cannot move forward if our house is not in order.

There is no longer space, nor time, for unconscious behaviours such as mismanaged emotions, egotistic reactions, convoluted communication streams, blame, discrimination and bullying. These are all manifestations of deep-rooted fears, anxieties and control mechanisms that have, until recently, been synonymous with the leadership styles commonplace in many industries, including our own.

But the pandemic has shone a light on what needed to be seen. Each and every one of us has understood, first-hand, what enables us to thrive and what keeps us down; what empowers us and what clips our wings. The need for integrity, honesty and a deeper understanding of each person’s impact on the world has never been greater than it is today.

A different way of doing things – a way that better serves ourselves, our clients, our communities, our industries and our planet – does not need to be invented because it is already here. Available to us all if we are willing to do the work.

Conscious leadership is not a management style – it is a way of life. We cannot expect change “out there” if we are not willing to do the work “in here”.

Our own level of consciousness will directly impact all those around us and so change can begin only when we can observe and understand what is driving our behaviours. What past conditioning is creating the responses of today? What fears are limiting our courageous decision-making? What unresolved issues are being projected onto our team members?

A shift into a conscious way of being requires a big dose of self-awareness and in turn, self-awareness becomes the precursor for empowering and inspiring conscious leadership. How? By focusing on purpose, values and vision.

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By moving into a learner’s mindset enabling innovation to thrive. By relinquishing blame as a control tactic and instead taking responsibility so that every action is solution-driven. By speaking honestly and communicating effectively, fostering trust and reliability. By having emotional intelligence to show empathy, compassion and an understanding of emotional triggers. By being present enough to calmly respond to all situations rather than reacting out of instinct. By having integrity and engaging in ethical practices. By implementing a corporate social responsibility plan that goes beyond a yearly charitable donation.

Such attributes are not only attainable but are demanded of us in today’s world. When we step into the conscious leader’s mindset, we are enhancing our ability to adapt, pivot and lead ourselves, our colleagues, our teams and our clients into uncertainty with ease and grace.

Artemis Evangelidi is the CEO of Aipeia Consulting. She is an author, lawyer and conscious business consultant. Her first book “Life. Thoughts That Make The World Go Around (And Up, Not Down)” is now available worldwide.