The field of Conscious Business is a relatively new one, yet some of the seeds of it were sown some time ago. People have been writing about this kind of work for at least a decade.
Here are 7 books that I consider seminal in this field. There are many others of course, but these are 7 that have deeply informed my perspectives and practice.
OK, onto the list, in no particular order…
Conscious Business – Fred Kofman
Quite aside from the fact that a list of 7 seminal books on conscious books needs to include the book that’s actually called conscious business, this really is a massively important and rich book.
Fred brings his immense depth and precision to what he posits are the key capacities of someone embodying a conscious business approach, from unconditional responsibility to authentic communication. Constructive negotiation to emotional mastery.
This book had a profound impact on me when I read it, and I keep returning to Fred’s work year after year.
Good to Great – Jim Collins
Perhaps the most mainstream book in this list, ‘Good to Great’ is something I think every conscious business aspirant should read.
The thing that I think is most powerful about this book is the massive research that went into its creation. This is not about subjective opinions so much, as looking at the data that marks ‘great’ companies from ‘good’ ones. And it’s full of robust and lucid insights into what makes that difference.
It may not be explicit about the impact of consciousness in the mix, but I do think that’s what the book is really pointing to. Cracking stuff.
Anything you Want – Derek Sivers
This book is a little different. In fact it’s a lot different, but it’s still wonderful! It’s a short read (I read it in a lunch break), and tells the story of Derek’s business CD Baby, which he started by accident and then sold for $22 million.
Derek’s story is an inspiring journey through his own brand of consciously doing business (even though he wouldn’t necessarily describe it that way), full of snappy take aways, insights and philosophies.
Derek is someone who is a wonderful mix of idealism and pragmatism, and this is a must read for anyone in the conscious entrepreneurial game.
First, Break all the Rules – Marcus Buckingham
This is another one that may not typically considered to be about conscious business, but I think it’s a deeply informative book.
Based on 25 years of Gallup research, First Break all the Rules looks at what great managers do differently to ‘ordinary’ managers. The results and conclusion are wonderfully enlightening.
For me, this book nailed the fundamentals of good management and leadership. So many books go into the high level capacities of leadership, but this one goes back to basics and shines a light on the simple dynamics that mark great managers from poor ones. Some heart warming stories in it too.
Immunity to Change – Robert Kegan & Lisa Lahey
This is one of the most mature and lucid explanation of change I’ve ever seen published. Kegan’s previous work was rich and deep, yet dense. In this book he and Lisa Lahey not only create simplicity out of complexity, but get super practical.
Their immunity to change process in one they’ve been using in business for some years now, and I can only imagine the traction they must have got with it. But it’s also something you as an individual can guide yourself through.
Laying the ground for conscious business means change, and this book goes to the nub of why creating change is so hard, and how to get to grips with overcoming that difficulty.
A Theory of Everything – Ken Wilber
This is the least business focused book on this list, but Wilber’s work is, I believe utterly crucial for the growth of conscious business. In this more popularist presentation of his complex theories, Wilber shows the high level values dynamics that are at play in today’s world, and why things are the way they are.
If you’ve never read Wilber’s work, this is a great place to start, and I really do encourage you to start.
Yes, his work is very high level and based on orienting generalization, but he is, I believe one of the most important writers of recent times, and he changed my life. Any conscious approach to business that doesn’t take Wilber’s work into account is going to fall very short of what’s possible in my opinion.
Synchronicity – Joseph Jaworski
Joseph Jaworski’s story of his spiritual quest into the heart of leadership is breathtaking. Everyone I know who has read this book has been deeply impacted by it.
Jaworski was a successful lawyer, when catalysed by the breakdown of his marriage, he found himself doing some major soul searching. As he goes deeper into the heart of what he feels he’s here for, strange synchronous events start to weave together a path toward his realized dream.
Synchronicity is a profound and magical book. It’s not a set of steps or models, but a capturing of what happened to one man when he really let go into what he deeply cared about.
What are some of the books that have impacted you that aren’t on this list?
What have I missed? Would love to hear your favourites!
Some others that nearly made this list – ReWork, Primal Leadership, Requisite Organisation…
HI Ewan
I jumped on your website to send you an email to talk about Requisite Organisation. I have been listening to your teleseries which I have found awesome but have been continually surprised that no-one has mentioned Requisite Organisation. I have implemented this methodology and it made much more difference to org culture than any of the culture change programs around. I can recommend both Elliott Jacques original text on Requisite Organisation, or Managerial Leadership by Nancy Lee (which I use in my executive coaching) and also a paper by Herb Elliott. You should be able to download this from http://www.globalro.org.
Keep up the good work
PS I has also occurred to me that you both would benefit in your careers to change organisations by working in a large corporation for a time. I notice that you are both very young and clearly thinking at high levels (RO has a development model as well). This experience would help you greatly in what will be impactful careers.
thanks
Jenny Bailey
Hello Jenny,
We know of the work of Elliott Jacque. Requisite organisation was not a book easy to come by. I did not know of Nancy Lee. I will check it out!
Jeroen
How about Sex Ecology and Spirituality (I am just reading it now).
or Aravind, that book opened my eyes and mind and my heart. It is a story of a family business, which I am interested in as the owner of Family Tree Care llc, and the story of great social/financial success lead by one man and his vision of curing blindness for the poor and his work and enrollment of his family.
I also think about collaborative structures that support mutual success, specifically legal documents that support mutual benefit and penalize singular screw the other guy thinking. An enlightened container llc partnership requiring work and valuing contribution. What could happen if any two or more people felt free enough (due to a strong faith in the legal agreement they have) to trust each other and work together to solve problems thus creating value?
How do we create holarchical structures in business? In govt?
Can we join as collaborative groups around common causes as business?
How about a gifting perspective, gifting and trusting? I am training to lead Family Constellations and imagine gifting my services as a way to not only spread this deep healing process of working with the soul but also to learn and develop my craft and my skill at releasing love within family systems, I would trust that I would receive value back for the value I create.
After I gave 'anything you want' to a mentor of mine, he bought a copy for everyone in our coaching group. Thanks for turning me onto it!
Hi Jason. this may be off topic but I would love to hear more about your coaching group and how it was started. Any references I could look into? Thanks!
Nice! Super awesome book isn't it? I keep lending my copy too – lost track of who has it 🙂
Two more — Let My People Go Surfing, Yvon Chouinard, and Jaworski's new book Source,
Ah, yes I heard Jaworski had a new book out. What's it like?
zappos. Delivering happiness – Tony Hsieh
Another recent one: Betterness by Umair Haque.
Hi Ewan. Thanks for this. I'd suggest Bill Joiner and Stephen Joseph's "Leadership Agility."
Yes – great book!
Ewan, Thank you for this list. I recommend "Firms of Endearment." The authors make a compelling case for conscious business and identify the best and brightest leaders and companies today that are following this approach. Sudhir
Oh, yes, that one nearly made the list too 😉
I think we might have to do a 2nd list 😉
Ewan, thanks for this post. I've read 2 out of the 7. Added the others to my wish list and will be reading them soon.
Nice – hope you enjoy them!
The Anatomy of Peace (by The Arbinger Institute)
Thanks. 3 more from me:
'Action Inquiry – the secret of timely and transformational leadership' – By Bill Torbert and Associates
'The Fifth Discipline' – By Peter Senge
'Small is Beautiful – a study of economics as if people mattered' – By E.F.Schumacher
Theory U by Otto Scharmer might make it, maybe.
Yes, of course Theory U has to be on the list, and maybe also Presence by Otto Scharmer, Peter Senge, Jaworski and Flowers.
Art of Possibility – Benjamin Zander
If you read Spanish or Portugese, then Fred Kofman's Conscious Business book was originally written as a three-volume set called MetaManagement. It is not available in English, though. I've read them all…actually helped Fred translate all three into what became Conscious Business…and they are dynamite.
Would LOVE to read the full 3 book set!
cool list. may wanna add j. garvey berger's "changing on the job"
uli
Great old one for me was "the fifth Discipline" from Peter Senge 1991
Thank youso much for this list. Synchronicity brought you/this to me – and I just want to say thank you, thank you, thank you 🙂
Our pleasure Karen!
A few other ones that I think are worth reading on this topic:
Firms of Endearment, by Raj Sisodia (this is up there with Fred's book for me)
The Future of Management, by Gary Hamel (this is awesome, too)
What Matters Now, by Gary Hamel (reading this now)
The Way We're Working Isn't Working, by Tony Schwartz (on engagement and vitality in the workplace)
Getting Things Done, by David Allen (on getting work done, consciously)
Drive, by Daniel Pink (on intrinsic vs. extrinsic motivation)
Flow, by Mihaly Csikszentmihaly (on the conditions that allow us to get into flow)
I love this thread 🙂
I want to read them all! looks like I will just have to get a kindle ):
I was surprised to find i had 5 of the 7 books you had recommended, must be doing something right! Good to hear about other books recommended. I agree with others who also suggested, which i think are essential reading: Theory U, Action Inquiry, Leadership Agility and i would also add Employees First, Customers Second by Vineet Nayar. Less directly business oriented and yet which espouse profound principles that go to the heart of Conscious Business i would recommend: Power and Love by Adam Kahane and The Art of Power by Thich Nhat Hanh.
Indeed Peter 🙂 Thanks for the further suggestions, don't know the Nayer book – sounds great!
I agree with your great list — and also agree that Conscious Business is at the very top!
Also agree that Flow, Power and Love, Presencing, Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, Theory U, Drive, and Seven Habits of Highly Effective People should make the 2nd list.
Thanks you guys.
Hi again, Porter is also writing about similar things he calls it Creating Shared Value here is an article from HBR http://hbr.org/2011/01/the-big-idea-creating-shar…
Enjoy
Sergio
Don't forget Margaret Wheatley with books such as
Finding our Way, Leadership for an Uncertain Time
The New Science of Leadership
and many more
Marianne
I will try to get a copy of atleast two books out of the seven that you have mentioned. I need new insight and perspective into the evolving family business outlooks due to social media and the growth of social entrepreneurship.
Classico Interlocking Play ground Tiles tend to be best play ground mats tiles with regard to domestic as well as commercial play ground areas.CLASSICO INTERLOCKING PLAYGROUND TILES
Education is very necessary for the better development of a child. Family is the first social institution to educate a child morally, socially, ethically and culturally. Through family he learns values, customs and skills.
The two career suggestions and occupation development are crucial components absolutely need personal occupation exploration. Understanding these kind of foundational terminology will take you what you may need, and with the right occasion.usa technology
Occupation advice currently comes to all shapes and forms. It's all to easy to get "lost inside lingo" nevertheless understanding a number of basic definitions may help take you the appropriate support to meet your needs. To use it simply, whether you may need career suggestions or occupation development is determined by your location on your job journey.tech news 404
Generating the important decision to look for a occupation change immediately after 50 normally won't come derived from one of event as well as one incidence. Rather it does not take slow drop, drip involving events that will trigger deciding.inception tech
Jobs change after a while often by simply events absolutely beyond each of our control. Your small business and industry could possibly be dying along with budget reduces restrict your capacity to do your career and you happen to be now supposed to do additional with a lesser amount of. Or your current boss can be beyond requiring,cheaps software
Life-long jobs and being employed by one workplace our total working life is often a thing involving past. With his current fast-paced world-wide economy, careers along with industries apparently change along with come along with go instantaneously.lincoln web hosting
It is definitely sad if a put off comes these are generally the same folks who will fight to launch his or her job look for quickly. It doesn't should be that means! Here are generally three "must do" occupation success pursuits.vet web design
Indeed a thoughtful proposition there for the people by the people. Thanks.
I am very thankful to write these educational reviews and content writing books for our school. These are all very important to learn these new things and I request you to buy assignment writing books for our new users.
A workable idea there for many people. Thanks.
I am very grateful to develop these academic opinions and article marketing guides for our school top article. These are all very important to understand these new things and I have you buy process composing guides for our new customers see post.
I am very grateful to develop these academic opinions and article marketing guides for our school top article. These are all very important to understand these new things and I have you buy process composing guides for our new customers see post.
I am very grateful to develop these academic opinions and article marketing guides for our school top article. These are all very important to understand these new things and I have you buy process composing guides for our new customers see post.
I am very grateful to develop these academic opinions and article marketing guides for our school top article. These are all very important to understand these new things and I have you buy process composing guides for our new customers see post.
I am very grateful to develop these academic opinions and article marketing guides for our school top article. These are all very important to understand these new things and I have you buy process composing guides for our new customers see post.
I am very grateful to develop these academic opinions and article marketing guides for our school top article. These are all very important to understand these new things and I have you buy process composing guides for our new customers see post.
I am very thankful to create these educational views and content writing books for our university top article. These are all very essential to understand these new things and I have you buy process writing books for our new clients.
I am very thankful to create these educational views and content writing books for our university top article. These are all very essential to understand these new things and I have you buy process writing books for our new clients.
I am very thankful to create these educational views and content writing books for our university top article. These are all very essential to understand these new things and I have you buy process writing books for our new clients.
I am very thankful to create these educational views and content writing books for our university top article. These are all very essential to understand these new things and I have you buy process writing books for our new clients.
I am very thankful to create these educational views and content writing books for our university top article. These are all very essential to understand these new things and I have you buy process writing books for our new clients.
I am very thankful to create these educational views and content writing books for our university top article. These are all very essential to understand these new things and I have you buy process writing books for our new clients.
Indeed a nice one there. Thanks.
finance conference
Obvious SEO: SEO centered words used over and over or SEO words weaved over, under and through a papers position focus through repetition; sometimes even the most serious search engine optimizer allows a bit of redundancy to be able to obtain the SEO positioning he needs. artesia museum
For small business networking is very much necessary and its significant has no know bound and I'm pretty sure that this allocation will be handy for everyone.
Easiest and therefore the most beneficial way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to analyze all the past customer information of an company. official sites
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
gdfd
accounting training – Our expertise in public finance and project management allow us to offer a special kind of support.
For small company social networks are very much necessary and its important has no know limited and I'm sure that this allowance will be useful for everyone lost ways.
For small company social networks are very much necessary and its important has no know limited and I'm sure that this allowance will be useful for everyone lost ways.
For small company social networks are very much necessary and its important has no know limited and I'm sure that this allowance will be useful for everyone lost ways.
For small company social networks are very much necessary and its important has no know limited and I'm sure that this allowance will be useful for everyone lost ways.
For small company social networks are very much necessary and its important has no know limited and I'm sure that this allowance will be useful for everyone lost ways.
For small company social networks are very much necessary and its important has no know limited and I'm sure that this allowance will be useful for everyone lost ways.
And as you say, sticking to it and enduring all the times the ego does come into play is exactly the way conscious leaders are being born. film making
I just renamed most of these shortcuts that will something shorter and special. Find Out More
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Easiest and therefore the most precious way to identify a Best SEO solutions company in UK is to examine all the first customer information of an company funny dog pictures with captions.
Reading is a great activity. There is a great variety of genres. So, there is a book for everyone! order presentation
Reading is a great activity. There is a great variety of genres. So, there is a book for everyone! order presentation
Reading is a great activity. There is a great variety of genres. So, there is a book for everyone! order presentation
Reading is a great activity. There is a great variety of genres. So, there is a book for everyone! order presentation
Reading is a great activity. There is a great variety of genres. So, there is a book for everyone! order presentation
Reading is a great activity. There is a great variety of genres. So, there is a book for everyone! order presentation
I read Good to Great by Jim Collins and learned much knowledge. Thank you for sharing the list. I'll find the rest.
Best Instagram online: intabe
As the part of your educational process you may read not only books but sites and blogs like https://narrativeessays.org/. Education is gone online long time ago and you can find a lot of quality content.
It's a community blog Share the field of Conscious Business is a relatively new one, yet some of the seeds of it were sown some time ago. People have been writing about this kind of work for at least a decade. Thanks to the authors of these books. internet providers
Such A Nice Post, Keep Up The Fantastic Work
Pay Me To Do Accounting Dissertation Writing Service
Those Who Come To Read Your Article Will Find Lots Of Helpful And Informative Tips
Harvard Business Review Case Analysis
Robert, you inspire so many! Thank you for your diligent, enlightening, good news. Keep it rolling! net worth
Thank you! The post is very interesting.
hotmail login account
I want to read them all! looks like I will just have to get a kindle ):
You Have Nice Contents Thank you for Sharing this Come to my website to view the contents of my website