The Leadership Pause

Sharpen Your Attention, Deepen Your Presence, and Navigate the Future

By: Chris L. Johnson PsyD

Narrated by: Chris L. Johnson PsyD

Length: 9 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

Pause to take your leadership from functional to excellent to embodied!

In The Leadership Pause, master somatic leadership coach, trauma psychologist, and mindfulness instructor Chris L. Johnson takes you on a guided journey into your most truthful future as a leader. Johnson’s call to action is for all leaders—new and seasoned professionals alike—to take on the important practice of pausing.

The Leadership Pause shows how to quiet the noise of the daily hustle so you can hear the still-small voice of purposeful curiosity that lives within you, which breeds wisdom in both work and life.

The Leadership Pause teaches
• the gift of mindful awareness that leads to clarity of mind and heart, reduced stress, and increased resilience;
• a deeper connection to self;
• a clearer vision of the natural leader resting just beneath the surface.

Johnson shares stories from established and powerful leaders about how they’ve used pause practices to transform their previous strategies and ways of thinking and behaving to find greater meaning and purpose in their work. This book is for anyone looking to deepen their impact on the lives around them, leave a profound mark on their organizations, and build a legacy of intentional focus, pragmatic ambition, grounded compassion, and empathy-in-action.

©2022 Chris L. Johnson, PsyD (P)2022 Greenleaf Book Group

Engaging, timely and urgently relevant

In these times of increasing complexity, ongoing uncertainty, and systemic disruption, the "better, faster, more" bus has reached the end of the road. With stress mode the new normal, we're burning out faster and checking out more. From this hyper state of anxiety, it's hard to focus and even harder to think beyond the problem right in front of you.

Yet as we know, self-awareness is key to building the level of emotional intelligence associated with engaged leadership. This book provides the case studies, the research and the tools to incorporate the most powerful practice for increasing self-awareness, the leadership pause. Highly recommended!

So Much Insight!

This is a great read/listen!! I've both read the hard copy of Dr. Chris' book, as well as listened to it on Audible. Dr. Chris narrates this herself - she's got a soothing yet lively voice, which makes listening to this so very easy!

I'd suggest also reading the many reviews of this book on Amazon (I believe there are currently 50!) - you'll be able to get a great sense of just how much this book brings to a reader/listener! What I appreciate is that those reviewing seem to be from various backgrounds, making this book great for professionals in the workplace, busy parents, retirees, and for all with experiences involving initiative, oversight & encouragement.

This book provides so much good information about what it takes to refocus our time and ourselves - to pause - in wonderfully simplistic (though not necessarily easy!) ways. Dr Chris includes some of her own background experiences as well compelling stories of others (plus I love the many great quotes that she includes!) I'm already looking forward to Dr. Chris' next book, whenever that might be!

Rich book

There is SO MUCH great information in this book! And thankfully it is delivered in a very engaging and relational way with examples and great storytelling between the scientific content.
I usually prefer when the author reads their work. Here is one of those times. Chris has great narration skills and a lovely voice.

Dare to Pause: Courage to Transform Leadership

"The Leadership Pause" stands as a testament to the profound influence of mindful leadership. This book has not only instructed but also transformed my approach to leadership by emphasizing the power of the pause. Dr. Johnson, with her background as a somatic leadership coach and trauma psychologist, guides leaders through the journey of self-awareness and mindfulness in a manner that is both practical and deeply insightful.

One chapter that particularly resonated with me was "Catch Yourself Being Yourself: Pressure." This section encouraged me to recognize my automatic responses and habitual patterns, offering me a clear path to understand and improve them. It was a call to align more closely with my passions, allowing a natural flow and evolution of my leadership style. Dr. Johnson expertly combines personal anecdotes and actionable advice, making the concept of pausing not just appealing but essential for effective leadership.

Implementing these pause practices has allowed me to approach leadership with a renewed perspective, focusing on purpose and passion. My days are now marked by moments of intentional pause, which bring clarity and creativity to my decision-making processes. Dr. Johnson's engaging style and relatable examples have made a significant impact, compelling me to recommend this book to any leader looking to foster a legacy of thoughtful action and resilient leadership.

In essence, "The Leadership Pause" is more than just a book; it is a transformative experience that teaches the importance of stepping back to propel forward. Dr. Johnson's insights into mindfulness and leadership are invaluable, making this a must-read for those seeking to enhance their impact and lead with authenticity and purpose.

A treat

You need this! Read it slow and do the exercises! You’ll be better and so will those around you.