- If you want to be a better transactional leader, cultivate the Low Ground of the mind and brain.
- If you want to be a powerful strategic leader, no matter where you may sit in the hierarchy, cultivate the High Ground of the mind and brain.
The more you do this, and the more self-aware you are while doing this, the stronger the effect. (We call this “refocusing” your attention.)
A great leader balances the Low Ground and High Ground, moving by choice between expedience (solving problems) and strategy (making a better world).
Three forms of mental activity draw you to the High Ground:
- Mentalizing (thinking about what others are thinking, also called having a “theory of mind”)
- Executive function (practicing mental flexibility, complex thinking – “working memory” – and inhibitory control – “free won’t”)
- Applied mindfulness (the pragmatic application of contemplative practice)