Vulnerable leaders

SCOTT SHUTE is a pioneer in creating workplace mindfulness programs and advancing the discussion around compassion at work. He is at the intersection of the workplace and ancient wisdom traditions, blending his experience as a Silicon Valley executive with his lifelong practice and passion as a wisdom seeker and teacher. In his recent role at LinkedIn, Scott was the Head of Mindfulness and Compassion programs. He is the author of the highly acclaimed book, The Full Body Yes: Change Your Work and Your World from the Inside Out.

In part 2 of this interview with EMILIE MOGENSEN, he explores vulnerability as a leadership quality, the value of an expanding consciousness, and wisdom practices at work.

Q: So, have we not learned anything collectively? Have we not pushed it to the extent of how far the ego can go?

SS: Of course. I think we rise in consciousness, but the challenges are always there. There is still war and destruction, even though we know better. There are still places where terrible things happen, and there are places where beautiful things happen: consciousness, beauty and love happen. I choose to spend my time where the beauty happens, and change the world from the inside out, and if the rest of the world changes, fine. I focus on me.

Q: So, I am getting a little personal. I noticed you used the word “vulnerability”a few times in your lectures. At the same time, I sensed a very interesting energy in my own being. I felt it as very vulnerable, which seemed really authentic coming from you. I felt very mesmerized and able to maintain my focus on your messages, despite being a rather impatient, typical entrepreneur. It was very intriguing how you use this quality to come forward with your messages. Is vulnerability a quality we need to be more curious about in the future?

SS: Absolutely! First of all, as humans, we are programmed to mirror vulnerability. In other words, if I share vulnerability, people around will do the same – that is how we are wired. There is very interesting research on this.

Regarding vulnerability as a leadership quality, we want to follow leaders who feel real. We want to follow leaders we can identify with. So, if a leader is perfect, steely, and never shows any weakness, they are distant from us, whereas, when we can see ourselves in our leaders, we are much more likely to follow them. I think that is a superpower and works for followership.

It also serves us as leaders to build strength, because we tend to protect ourselves against harm. But what happens when we share with people who we really are? It sets us free.

When we share our weakness and get over ourselves there is some growth that happens. We can’t be harmed, as we have already shared our weakness. Just like I said about desire versus letting go: when we let go of ourselves, we get more in return.

Q: Do you think the main purpose of our work and business endeavors can be to expand consciousness?

SS: Yes. I think everything in life is about expanding consciousness, and work can be as good as going to a monastery! Of course, I must focus on my organization to succeed when I am at work; but tucked away in my mind, I know it’s to develop myself.

The most important work we can do is to develop our own consciousness. Because then, whatever we do, we are going to be so much more effective, we will be so much more!

Q: How would it impact the world if everyone worked with expansion of consciousness as our approach, secondary to whatever we do?

SS: Imagine what that would do to the world! It would absolutely benefit the whole if everyone worked for the “we”instead of the “me.”

Q: I was touched in one of your lectures, when you said that we use the word “compassion” because we are too shy to call it love. We can even take it a step further – we are way too intimidated to call it Divinity. Can you speak a little bit about that? Is there place for Divinity in modern work life and business endeavors?

SS: I think Divinity is everything. Nothing is not a part of the Divine. It’s the language and how we talk about it that we must focus on. My job is to operationalize compassion – how do you develop products and sell them compassionately. That makes sense to everyone. But deep inside, when I talk about compassion, I’m really talking about love. And when I talk about love, I’m really talking about the Divine. So, I am consciously thinking about how to operationalize the Divine at work.

We are probably not ready yet to use this language, because some people get confused and think it’s about religion. I’m not talking about religion at all. It’s the last thing I’m talking about.

If I practice wishing others
the mindset of kindness and having the courage
to take action, then I am living
this divine principle of compassion.
Work becomes the living expression
of my Divinity in the world.

Q: That’s why I’m pushing a bit here. I’m very curious about whether these ancient wisdom practices can be translated and operationalized into modern work life, without losing a bit of their deep transformative potential?

SS: I think there are two different things. First, is the path to enlightenment through work? Not exactly, but you can consciously have your path to enlightenment using work as a context. To get enlightened, I don’t need to go and meditate full time under a tree or join a monastery. I can be an executive, or a frontline worker, or a barista, and still have the same spiritual experiences. The context is just as valid.

If I pick a religion, let’s say Christianity, I can follow the ethos of one of the key principles, “Treat others as you would want to be treated.” If I practice that at work – wishing others that mindset of kindness and having the courage to take action – then I am living this divine principle of compassion. Work becomes the living expression of my Divinity in the world.

If I join a monastery and become enlightened, who cares? Whereas, if I practice these principles among thousands of people at work, then I make a real difference.

Q: Yes, you have. Thank you for that, Scott.

Can you give some tips to anyone wanting to bring contemplative practices or meditation to their workspace?

SS: I have a few tips and playbooks but first, if you’re coming from a spiritual perspective you need to leave some stuff at the door. No gurus, no religion, none of that. The stuff you do at work needs to be secular. You can do a lot within that zone – breathing practices and meditation – but most importantly, you need to use the language of the environment you are in.

What do people need? If they just need a break from their mind, to feel some peace, that’s great! Give them that. Second, just start. I started at LinkedIn in a conference room, and there was one guy present. The following week there were three, then five, and it grew organically from there.

A good thing to do at work is a 30-day challenge – people like to compete, so they join a challenge. Then treat it as a business, once you know who your friends are and you have the top of the funnel. Meet people where they are. We found that when we did a 30-day challenge, we had 1500 people sign up for it. Then we started email marketing and it kept growing and growing. We used the same principles as we use when growing a business. We built a community at work.

Why do we do this? We do it to raise consciousness. We do it to serve the employees, because when employees get out of their minds a little bit, it’s goodness all around.

Q: Is the world ripe for bringing wisdom practices to workspaces now?

SS: Yes, this is absolutely the right time for us to have this conversation!

Q: Thank you, Scott.

Illustrations by ANANYA PATEL