Mindfulness Practices for Leaders — Leading the Field examination

Eleven questions. Nine of eleven passes, and you can take it again as often as you like.

What does the module say corporate mindfulness has largely become?

A fringe activity that few serious companies take seriously A stress-reduction and productivity tool stripped of its developmental context A form of therapy that requires ongoing clinical supervision A religious practice imposed on employees without their consent under the banner of workplace wellness
The module compares reducing mindfulness to stress relief with what image?

Reducing a forest to a single tree Reducing a novel to its cover Reducing a meal to its calories Reducing a symphony to a ringtone
According to the module, what does the Pali word sati point to beyond 'paying attention on purpose'?

Remembering — that you are the awareness in which experience arises Concentrating — fixing attention on one object without wavering Emptying — clearing the mind of every thought as it appears Relaxing — deliberately releasing the tension held in the body
Why does mindfulness matter specifically for the Stage 4 to Stage 5 transition?

It removes the need for any self-authored identity at all, so that Stage 4 can simply be skipped over It helps leaders win the approval of important others more consistently It strengthens the Stage 4 system so that it becomes much harder to disrupt It trains observing one's beliefs and identities as objects rather than being embedded in them
Which dimension of Luminous mindfulness addresses the executive's fragmented attention?

Concentration (shamatha) Insight (vipassana) Compassion (metta and karuna) Open panoramic awareness
What does insight practice reveal that is especially valuable to the Stage 4 leader?

Which of their colleagues are trustworthy and which ones are not The objective truth that lies behind every business decision they make, free of any interpretation The constructed nature of their interpretive lenses, so they can choose among them The fastest available route to achieving this quarter's goals
How does the module define compassion in the leadership context?

Being consistently nice so that conflict is avoided wherever possible Lowering standards in order to protect people's feelings at work A trainable capacity to hold suffering with open, warm, responsive presence A sentimental feeling that is best kept well out of business life
Why does the module say felt compassion cannot be faked?

It radiates from being as warmth and safety others feel, so it must be cultivated People can always detect a false facial expression within a few seconds, so any faking is exposed Organisations now measure compassion directly in performance reviews Compassion is a fixed personality trait that one either has or lacks
Before a significant decision, the module suggests a thirty-second pause. What does it check?

What your manager, your peers and your team would each prefer The financial projections, the legal and reputational risks, and the delivery timeline Your somatic state, which parts are advocating, and what the field calls for Your calendar, your inbox and your list of outstanding tasks
What problem do mindful transitions address in the executive day?

The difficulty of remembering what was decided earlier in the day The residue each context switch leaves, colouring the next situation The tendency of meetings to overrun their scheduled finishing time The physical fatigue that comes from sitting still for long periods
How does the module use the word 'spiritual'?

A belief that supernatural forces are guiding the outcomes of business decisions Relating to the deepest source of meaning and purpose, with no specific religious belief required A private matter that ought to be kept strictly separate from leadership Adherence to one particular religious tradition and its established practices, rituals and teachings