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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Conscious Business summary
Fred Kofman
How to Build Value Through Values
18 mins
Brief summary
Conscious Business by Fred Kofman is a management guide that explores how to create workplaces built on authenticity, transparency, and ethics. It provides practical tools for resolving conflicts and finding fulfillment in work.
Table of Contents
Conscious Business
Summary of 8 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 8
Becoming a conscious company is your key to greater business success.
In Good to Great, author Jim Collins shows how the most successful companies are the ones that strive for more than financial success, as they’re motivated by higher values.
But how is it exactly that values could create a successful company?
Many successful businesses are powered by conscious employees. They take responsibility for their actions and know how to communicate constructively, without compromising their core values.
Unconscious employees, on the other hand, tend to undermine a business as they often blame others for problems and see themselves as the victim. They aren’t self-aware, and thus are not able to act according to higher values.
This is why managers should make it a priority to hire conscious employees.
Yet if you want to build a truly conscious business, you can’t stop here. You must also cultivate a balance among the impersonal, the interpersonal and the personal dimensions of your company.
The impersonal is the “it,” things like shareholder value, productivity and other technical considerations inherent to any business.
The interpersonal is the “we,” or the relationships among different people within your company.
And the personal, of course, is the “I,” relating to each individual’s happiness and desire for meaningful work and a mindful life.
Yet instead of creating a harmonious relationship among these three, most managers tend to focus entirely on “it,” the impersonal elements of a business.
When a company neglects its human elements (the interpersonal and the personal), business is a mindless activity, in which failure or success hinges only on managing arbitrary technical matters.
In a conscious business, however, harmony exists among the three core dimensions.
So how do you create a business built on harmony and core values? Read on!
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What is Conscious Business about?
Conscious Business (2006) pushes beyond conventional measures of success to show you how to create a dynamic organization based on core human values. You’ll learn why companies that empower employees to align their work with the values they hold dear are the companies that succeed in today’s marketplace.
Conscious Business Review
Conscious Business (2006) by Fred Kofman is a thought-provoking book that explores the intersection of business and personal growth. Here's why you should give it a read:
- It offers practical tools and frameworks to cultivate conscious leadership, fostering healthier and more fulfilling work environments.
- By emphasizing emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, the book helps readers develop better relationships and communication in the workplace.
- Through compelling stories and insightful examples, Kofman demonstrates how conscious business practices can drive success and impact beyond just financial gain.
Best quote from Conscious Business
The hard and stiff will be broken. The soft and supple will prevail. – Lao Tzu
—Fred Kofman
Who should read Conscious Business?
- People looking to make work more fulfilling
- CEOs and managers wanting to create space for values in their organizations
- Entrepreneurs who value more enlightened measures of success
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Conscious Business FAQs
What is the main message of Conscious Business?
The main message of Conscious Business is the importance of aligning personal and organizational values for success.
How long does it take to read Conscious Business?
The reading time for Conscious Business varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Conscious Business a good book? Is it worth reading?
Conscious Business is a valuable read for anyone interested in ethical leadership. It offers practical tools and insights for creating a positive work environment.
Who is the author of Conscious Business?
The author of Conscious Business is Fred Kofman.
What to read after Conscious Business?
If you're wondering what to read next after Conscious Business, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Awakening Compassion at Work by Monica C. Worline and Jane E. Dutton
- Do Cool Sh*t by Miki Agrawal
- The Sleep Revolution by Arianna Huffington
- House of Huawei by Eva Dou
- The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
- Built to Last by Jim Collins
- Managing Up by Melody Wilding
- Shift by Ethan Kross
- Secrets of Sand Hill Road by Scott Kupor
- Think Like a Psychologist by Patrick King