We live in a world of accelerating change that we can either tune out and avoid, or evolve with, lead and transform by awakening and expanding our minds with heightened awareness.

In CONSCIOUS: The Power of Awareness in Business and Life (Wiley; July 18, 2018),

New York Times bestselling author and psychologist Bob Rosen, PhD and Emma-Kate Swann argue that the state of mind most needed today is not mindfulness, which recharges us, but an awareness that can empower us to adapt to and even lead change. They call this state of mind “conscious.”

Based on research drawn from psychology, biology, management, leadership, neuroscience, and behavioral economics, CONSCIOUS offers a groundbreaking new approach to adapting and thriving in our fast-changing world.

The authors identify six key disruptions that have changed how we work and live—speed, uncertainty, complexity, technology, competition, and globalization. How well you navigate them, they argue, depends on how conscious you are—of yourself, your relationships, and your surroundings. How can you achieve the consciousness that our times now demand? 

Rosen and Swann recommend four steps:

• Go Deep – Harness the power of introspection by getting to know who you are, where you come from, and why you act the way you do;

• Think Big – Get curious and adaptive: deal with complexity and paradox by learning how to expand your mind, leverage your relationships and networks, and overcome unconscious biases;

• Get Real – Become more honest and intentional in leadership and life, overcoming the pitfalls of being too safe and cautious while embracing reality, and

• Step up – Act boldly and responsibly to reach your highest potential: how to champion your higher purpose, stretch people in constructive ways, and be generous in your relationships.

CONSCIOUS is filled with practical advice like this, as well as examples and success stories drawn not only from business, but from the arts, activism, sports, and everyday experiences.

General Motors CEO Mary Barra has built on core values of honesty and integrity as she has risen from the factory floor to the corner office. The Chicago Cubs’ legendary World Series drought was finally ended through President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein focusing the organization back on the human being. Netflix founder Reed Hastings thought big not once, but twice—when he challenged the model of brick-and-mortar video rentals and when he rushed to bring streaming to customers. Oprah Winfrey embodies the principle of Going Deep, while

Elon Musk gets real by consistently looking beyond the status quo.

CONSCIOUS is essential reading for people at every level of an organization and in every walk of life. “Whether you work at Boeing or Apple, the federal government or the state of Utah, run a technology startup or a nonprofit serving the homeless, or work as the head of your household, the ability to lead change is the most important skill you must develop,” the authors emphasize.  The first step of leading change is awareness in action –or in other words, to be conscious. 

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About the Authors 

Bob Rosen is the founder and CEO of Healthy Companies International, where coauthor

Emma-Kate Swann serves as vice president of leadership and transformation. As an organizational psychologist, Rosen is a trusted global CEO advisor and bestselling author of several books including the New York Times bestseller Grounded). He helps top executives achieve their leadership potential and build healthy, high-performing, and sustainable companies. Bob is a frequent media commentator and has been quoted in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Bloomberg Businessweek, Financial Times, among others.

About the Book

Title:           CONSCIOUS:  The Power of Awareness in Business and Life        

Authors:     Bob Rosen, PhD and Emma Kate Swann       

Publisher:   Wiley

Publication Date: July 18, 2018

ISBN-13:    978-1119508458

Hardcover; 272 pages; $26.00

Website: https://resources.healthycompanies.com/conscious