1st Edition
The Evolutionary Leap to Flourishing Individuals and Organizations
The last thing the world needs is yet another book delineating business-induced dangers and damages such as environmental disasters, social inequalities and unethical conduct.
And yet, success in achieving sustainable growth - whether for the individual, organization, or the social community - has mostly eluded us. Just as a compass needle moves to magnetic north, our deeply seated behaviours push us back to practices that are familiar and comfortable, even when we have sought to make a change to act in ways that are more sustainable.
How can we generate this deep and durable change in our values and beliefs, and thus both in our individual and collective decisions and behaviour at work? How can we unveil the best of our human qualities by learning to raise our consciousness to a more profound perception of ourselves and our relationship with the whole? And what if such a change could lead to an 'evolutionary leap' to a lasting flourishing state for us and for our organizations?
This book describes how this shift in mindset and consciousness level can, and has indeed, taken place in organizations using meditative practice, not only for individual wellbeing (which is now well understood) but also for deep transformational change. Through this shift, we can move past a definition of sustainability as 'mere resource efficiency and long-term survival', to one of 'sustainability-as-flourishing'. This book challenges many pre-conceived ideas about what a sustainably successful organization is and how it should be run. Based on a growing body of evidence - from neuroscience to business research - it maps out a path to empower all who wish to undertake this journey towards the realization of the highest potential in ourselves, our organizations, and our social and natural world.
Introduction
Part 1: The Premise
1. The Challenge
2. The Leap in the Field
Part 2: Individual Flourishing
3. The Neuroscientific Evidence
4. The Inner Transformation Engine
5. The Field of Collective Consciousness
Part 3
: Toward the Flourishing Organization6. The Transition Models of Organizations
7. Practical Steps for the Transition
Conclusions
Biography
THE CENTER FOR EVOLUTIONARY LEARNING is a non-profit global research network specialized in the study of how individuals and organizations learn to evolve towards ideal models of responsibility and sustainability in their identity and behaviour. The individual authors are Frank Brueck, Michela Cavalletti, Calin Costian, Wolfgang Hackl, Gregoire de Kalbermatten and Maurizio Zollo.
‘In an era defined by systems of intelligence, rapid change and the industrial revolution 4.0, deep knowledge and management of the Self is the gateway to effective leadership. This book offers effective insights on how to learn, perform and transform yourself and your organization.’
Elena Bonfiglioli, Managing Director, Health Industry EMEA, Microsoft
‘These accomplished authors have argued and shown how applying a compassionate sense of the collective to decisionmaking can lead spontaneously to the achievement of business goals more efficiently and at various levels. My congratulations to the authors for delivering an inspiring message in an easy-toread, beautifully written book.’
Rajesh V. Shah, Co-Chairman and Managing Director, Mukand Steel, and Former President of the Confederation of Indian Industry
‘The Evolutionary Leap to Flourishing Individuals and Organisations has the potential to create a breakthrough in both individual and organizational creativity, productivity and wellbeing. This book presents a solution that should appeal to every CEO who struggles to incentivize their management and workforce to higher levels of creative endeavour and productivity.’
Rajiv Kumar, Director, Central Board of Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai
‘The authors of The Evolutionary Leap to Flourishing Individuals and Organisations offer a hopeful and provocative guide to how we humans can lead our enterprises of all types towards flourishing. Based on deep understanding of neurology, combined with increasing evidence of the effectiveness of meditation drawn from a number of wisdom traditions, the book demonstrates how we can all advance our own flourishing and that of the organizations in which we work and play. In light of the global challenges we face around sustainability, the book’s message and ideas are much needed and welcome!’
Sandra Waddock, Galligan Chair of Strategy and Carroll School Scholar of Corporate Responsibility, Boston College
