Marc Lesser is a speaker, workshop leader, and executive coach. He is the CEO of ZBA Associates, an executive development and leadership consulting company and has led mindfulness and emotional intelligence programs at many of the world’s leading businesses and organizations including Google, SAP, Genentech, and Kaiser Permanente. Marc helped develop the world-renowned Search Inside Yourself (SIY) program within Google - a mindfulness-based emotional intelligence training for leaders. He was also the founder and CEO of the Search Inside Yourself Leadership Institute (SIYLI). He has authored 5 books. His most recent is: Finding Clarity (which we explore in depth in this conversation).

Prior to his successful business and coaching career, he was a resident of the San Francisco Zen Center for 10 years, and director of Tassajara, Zen Mountain Center, the first Zen monastery in the Western world. For more on Marc please visit marclesser.net

In this episode:

• Marc’s inspiring story about his somewhat non-traditional career path, and how he found the clarity and courage to pursue it
• The importance of finding time to get quiet, and the practice of listening to our inner voice that may offer insight into what will contribute to deeper meaning
• The role of compassion and an open heart when it comes to performance and accountability
• How to receive feedback more skillfully
• Insights from helping to build the world renowned Search Inside Yourself mindfulness and emotional intelligence at Google
• Marc’s answer to the age old question, what’s the least amount of meditation I  can do to get the most benefit?
• How to turn breakdowns, failures, and missteps into breakthroughs
• Moving from reactivity to responsiveness and how this can contribute to vibrant relationships
• Some of Marc’s favorite practices for cultivating an open heart and greater compassion in life and leadership 

Please rate the show on iTunes!

Did you enjoy this episode? Here are two others we think you will find inspiring:

Parker Palmer Part Two: Reflections on the Power of Living With an Open Heart

Tal Ben-Shahar: Letting go of Perfection and Finding Happiness

Thanks for listening! 

Support the show