There are two kinds of leaders: conscious and unconscious.

Many leaders consider themselves successful, even if their workplace has a stressful atmosphere or they don't have strong relationships in their personal lives. Success, however, doesn't have to come at the price of true contentment – you can find success and personal happiness if you lead a conscious life.

A person can live – and lead – in one of two ways: consciously or unconsciously.

Unconscious leaders don't respond well to changes in their environment. They cling to old models and patterns, even when it's counterproductive – that's why they always view themselves as victims of circumstance. They think their success and personal happiness is produced by outside factors.

Conscious leaders, on the other hand, are much better at living in the moment. They learn from whatever situation they're in and know they have the power to change it.

Don't think of conscious leading as a stage you reach. It's really a state of mind – and you can deliberately enter it at any time.

How?

By always staying honest with yourself and the position you're in. Living unconsciously might sound unpleasant, but it's actually the norm for most people. If you're happy, there’s nothing wrong with unconscious living; however, if you want to be a leader who fosters creative energy in the workplace and builds strong relationships, you have to be honest with yourself about where you stand. After all, you have to make a conscious effort to lead a life of conscious leadership.

You can aim to be a conscious leader by using the 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership.

Contrary to popular belief, commitments are not promises for the future. They're statements about your present reality. When you can determine the things you're committed to, you can assess whether you're a conscious or unconscious leader.