Location. Location. Location. Brought to you by the Conscious Leadership Group Find them on the web at www.conscious.is Animation by Graeme Franks www.Graemefranks.com One question that conscious leaders ask themselves over and over is, "Where am I?" To support leaders in locating themselves as they ask the question, "Where am I?" We offer this tool... A line. A simple black line. At any moment, all leaders and all people are either above the line or below the line. Our location describes how we are being with what is occurring in our life right now. If we are above the line, we are open, curious, and committed to learning. If we are below the line we are closed, defensive, and committed to being right. Stop right now and simply ask yourself: "Where am I?" In this now moment, am I above the line or below the line? Typically, when people are below the line they believe certain things about the world. For example, they believe there is not enough. It could be that there is not enough money, or time, or space, or energy, or love. People below the line also believe that their story about the situation is right. People below the line also believe that there is a threat out there. Something or someone is threatening their desire for approval, control, or security. And people below the line see the situation as serious. The deeper below the line they are, the more serious things look. People below the line tend to behave certain ways as well. They tend to cling to an opinion. Find fault, and blame, gossip, explain, rationalize and justify... ...get overwhelmed, and avoid conflict or pursue conflict for the sake of winning. When people are above the line, they believe that learning and growing are more important than being right. They believe that all people and circumstances are their allies, here for their growth. They believe that from a distance almost everything is funny. People above the line live in curiosity. Listen deeply. Speak unarguably. Question all their beliefs. And live a life of play. Now, knowing what you know about being above or below the line, where are you? One thing to know as you consider this question... We are hardwired to go below the line. Literally, our brain is programmed to perceive threat. And when it does, a chemical cocktail courses through our veins, and we go below the line. This reaction was designed to help us survive in the presence of a real threat to our physical survival. An issue for modern day leaders is that often our brains can't tell the difference between a threat to our physical survival and a threat to our ego or identity We react and get defensive when we experience a threat to our ego. So, in many ways, being below the line is natural and normal. But, when we are below the line we're not in a state, literally brain state of high creativity, collaboration, innovation, and relational connection. We're simply trying to survive. Leaders today can't thrive if they are in survival mode. So, the first activity of conscious leadership is... Location. Location. Location. In this now moment.... "Where am I?" Telling ourselves and others the truth about our current location begins the great conversation.