Expand the Circle

About the Author

Matt Poepsel, Ph.D., is a thought leader and expert in the field of leadership development. With extensive experience as an executive coach, speaker, and writer, Poepsel has dedicated his career to helping individuals and organizations realize their leadership potential. His educational background in psychology and leadership provides a strong foundation for his insights and methodologies. Poepsel's work is characterized by a blend of modern scientific principles and ancient wisdom, offering a comprehensive approach to leadership in today's dynamic work environment.

Main Idea

In "Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work," Matt Poepsel presents a transformative framework for modern leadership. The book advocates for a shift from traditional leadership models to a more enlightened approach, emphasizing self-awareness, empathy, and a broader vision that encompasses not only personal and organizational success but also global impact. The "Expand the Circle" framework guides leaders through progressive layers of development: leading oneself, leading others, leading teams, leading organizations, and ultimately, leading the world. Poepsel provides actionable insights and tools to help leaders overcome self-imposed limitations and cultivate a more inclusive, compassionate, and effective leadership style.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Part 1: The Map
1. Chapter 1: Lead Yourself
2. Chapter 2: Lead Others
3. Chapter 3: Lead Your Team
4. Chapter 4: Lead Your Organization
5. Chapter 5: Lead the World
3. Part 2: The Path
1. Chapter 6: Becoming An Enlightened Leader
2. Chapter 7: Assessment – Know Thyself
3. Chapter 8: Aspiration – The Will Before the Way
4. Chapter 9: Action – Steps Along the Path
4. Part 3: The Lamp
1. Chapter 10: Lighting A Lamp for Other Leaders
2. Chapter 11: Tips for Executives
3. Chapter 12: Tips for Team Leaders
4. Chapter 13: Tips for HR Leaders
5. Conclusion: The Formula

Introduction

Many workers today find they can adequately meet their basic and even mid-level needs through virtually any employer. Beyond that, the work they do fails to satisfy them and kills their productivity, engagement, performance, and intent to stay. This view of work and the worker implies an inherent disconnect in the modern workplace. What's missing is something that can help workers meet their existential needs while performing meaningful and necessary work in organizations. Fortunately, enlightened leadership can make that critical connection. It is a leadership approach characterized by opening oneself to new beliefs and practices inspired by ancient wisdom and grounded in modern science.

Part 1: The Map

Chapter 1: Lead Yourself

As a leader, before you effectively lead others, you must learn to lead yourself. This involves investing in personal reflection and self-mastery to deepen your leadership capacity. Leading yourself is about building the pillars of awareness, acceptance, confidence, authenticity, and transcendence.

• Awareness: Examine your personal values, guiding beliefs, strengths, limitations, and motivation to lead. Make checking in with yourself a regular habit. Shift from avoiding negative experiences to appreciating them.
• Acceptance: Remember, no leader is perfect. Rather than hide away your perceived flaws, accept that they're an essential part of you. Learn from your setbacks and shortcomings.
• Confidence: The road to confidence starts from the expectation that you will succeed. Build on that foundation by appreciating the value you create as a leader. "Self-confidence and self-esteem precede competence" (Poepsel).
• Authenticity: Be fully authentic. Strive to exhibit the values, attitudes, and behaviors that align with your most authentic self.
• Transcendence: Understand that transcendence is about thinking bigger. Your willingness to transcend self-absorption and self-limiting boundaries will unlock your next leadership level.

Chapter 2: Lead Others

When we Expand the Circle beyond ourselves alone, we arrive at our relationships with others. This step requires mastering the art of empathy, altruism, trust, fairness, and connectedness.