Synopsis

Given our lives today--constant disruption, rising fear and anxiety, increased noise and pressure all resulting in a lack of clarity and focus--it’s clear that conventional leadership practices are no longer adequate to prepare leaders of the future to address today’s complex challenges.

While leaders have always faced uncertainty, the global, interconnected reach and scale are unprecedented.

As businesses are being challenged to turn toward purpose and meaning, and away from a sole focus on profit, we need attentive, skillful leaders at all levels of business to step up, step in and step out to move beyond reactivity to the responsiveness required to create a new future.

Crafting an inspiring vision for the future and bringing people along with you is what an authentic, conscious leader does by:

✔️Leveraging attention and focus to get a read on life’s unfolding, a
strategic view and to direct energy to power right action
✔️Embedding purpose in all their work, increasing engagement
✔️Learning from their emotions (no longer reactively ruled by them)
to become responsive and clear in decision-making
✔️Shaping and committing to resilient, caring, diverse work cultures
to create a just, equitable society.

What if there were a single practice that would significantly maximize your impact?

What if it were so simple, the science and results so compelling, that the only reason not to put it into practice would be an attachment to worn-out methods of leading?

You’ll find that simple practice in The Leadership Pause, where you’ll learn shortcuts for the long haul toward developing embodied leadership.

Committing to and cultivating this practice in your day-to-day life and leadership will sharpen your attention, deepen your presence, and supercharge your leadership to collaborate and coordinate effective action for the greatest impact.

This book shows you how. It answers 3 questions:

✔️What about pausing makes it so essential to conscious leadership?
✔️How will implementing pausing solve your biggest struggles?
✔️What results might be possible if pausing to listen deeply informed
your actions?

The Leadership Pause shows you the way to generating and making your greatest contribution. And it does so in a way that builds your resilience and generates energy.

This way of leading will teach you practices to reduce your level of stress, declutter your thinking process, and widen your perspective to include all the possibilities available to you.

Each chapter of the book is organized around common concerns facing professionals and leaders. You will see them yourself in stories shared, and have the opportunity to explore questions and new practices at the end of each chapter.

This book is rooted in the latest in adult developmental theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and the science of somatics, mindfulness practice, and best practices of conscious business.

1. Present: Our Current Present
2. Pause into the Moment: What is Pause?
3. Pressure: Catch Yourself Being Yourself
4. Presence: Tap Your Power
5. Passion & Purpose: What Do You Love?
6. Perspective: Let Go of What You Think You Know
7. Purposeful Practice: Step into the Stream
8. Pacing & Pivoting: Entering & Facing Fully
9. People: Are You Willing to Go First?
10. Let Life Fill You Up

Who is this book for?

This book is for those who choose to lead consciously, on purpose, and powerfully to create a new future for all.

Emerging Leaders and professionals seeking greater meaning and purpose in their work.

Emerging leaders, newer managers, and entrepreneurs who are looking for meaning in their work, are curious and open to developing their leadership, will find this book appealing.

Younger professionals are actively on the lookout for meaning and purpose in their careers; they don’t need convincing about the utility of this book’s content. Their challenge will be to put into practice what they learn, apply it across all domains of their life and leadership to grow into themselves most fully.

Practices they learn and employ will be foundational to their leadership well past their middle-ages.

Seasoned Professionals and Mature Leaders seeking to deepen their impact and legacy

More seasoned professionals will benefit from this book as a source of recognition; their years of work and leadership have not been for naught in the workplace of the future.

Emotional reflection, contemplation, and service are hallmarks of the wisdom acquired through maturity and required for future leaders. Deepening their self-awareness, and acting from their purpose with integrity ensures them a significant impact.

Secondary Audiences
General audiences interested in conscious leadership and the high value of conscious businesses, personal and psychological growth, and mindfulness will find this practice-oriented book full of wisdom.

Other executive coaches, organizational consultants, embodiment practitioners, and psychotherapists who support professionals’ conscious growth and development.

Promotion
Q4 Consulting, Inc. Website
We will create a page devoted to the book on Q4 Consulting’s website. We will promote the book widely throughout the active networks I’m affiliated with and new professional networks that will find value in the book’s content.

Social media strategy
We will create a LinkedIn page dedicated to the book, with daily attention to those who visit and comment.

These social media platforms will be updated regularly with real-life examples of professionals using this work, reviews of the book, interviews with conscious leaders, and pragmatic articles.

Sales arguments

• Cost of not pausing: Currently over 60% of respondents in a SUN/Torch poll in 2020) indicated that their boss didn’t handle Working From Home (WFH) well, while 67% indicated that their boss didn’t understand the struggles of WFH Gallup reports as of mid-June 2020, that merely 31% of the working population are engaged, a factor highly related to performance outcomes 2016 research reveals that 75% who report being stressed, yet don't allow for renewal and restoration, are prone to illness, disease, even ear
• Rising Chair of Chicago Chapter of Conscious Capitalism & executive coach to conscious leaders, understands challenges facing mission-driven professionals & the need to develop self-awareness to lead others effectively
• Client list: Alliant Credit Union, U.S. Foods, MacArthur Foundation, Omron, Morton Salt, Corbion, Land O’ Lakes, Itron, Allianz, Feeding America, Tuthill, Rush-Copley Medical Center
• Active networks: Conscious Capitalism, Stagen Academy, Illinois Psychological Association, Ellevate Network, Mindful Leadership, Leadership Embodiment and Aikido communities, LinkedIn.

Similar titles

• Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise, (A. Ericsson, Eamon Dolan/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2016). TLP applies deliberate practice to everyday leadership challenges.
• Aware: The Science and Practice of Presence, (D. Siegel, Penguin, 2018). TLP builds awareness through daily, consistent practice..
• Focus: The Hidden Driver of Excellence, (D. Goleman, Harper, 2013). TLP takes a pause into the conference room in pragmatic ways.

Audience

This book is for those who choose to lead consciously, on purpose, and powerfully to create a new future for all.

Advance praise

Thoughts from those who've worked with Chris in her role as Executive Coach & Consultant

"Chris helped us create a future for the company rather than allowing us to remain in our comfort zone by going beyond typical methods to focus on purpose, values, mindfulness."

--Dave Mooney, CEO Alliant Credit Union

"Chris is a leading voice in the application of mindful embodiment to leadership development and performance. Her take on the critical value of pausing, powerful conversations, and promise-based leadership deserves a wide and engaged audience. Leaders who adopt the principles and practices Dr. Johnson shares will be rewarded with greater resilience and effectiveness. "

-- Amanda Blake, author, Your Body is Your Brain

“Chris is an extremely creative thinker, with an incredible capacity for continual learning and growth. Her expert guidance helped me incorporate mindfulness in my daily life, providing focus and clarity. She’s a thoughtful and smart–she brings a wealth of knowledge and insight into all her projects.”

--Nancy, Career Management Coach, Columbia Business School

"At first, ‘mindfulness’ sounded to me like a squishy, overused synonym for group hugs and undisciplined leadership. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I’m very thankful that I was open-minded enough to listen, read, and learn about the science behind Chris’ Core Presence Coaching™ process that is based on mindfulness practices."

--Nick Blawat, VP Strategy, US Foods

"At ‘Celebrating Life. Celebrating Uncertainty: Mindfulness Skills for Success’ an event for our nursing leaders, I learned how mindfulness can help me deal with & face conflict. What an eye-opener! And, that it can be developed as a daily practice. Practice, practice, practice!"

--Tess Callanta,  RN, Rush Copley Medical Center