The pebble in the pond: how integrative leadership can bring about transformation.

We have all thrown a pebble into a pond and watched the ripples spread out across the water. One small stone entering the water can affect the entire pond. Leaders in Integrative Healthcare who have the opportunity and responsibility to bring about transformative change within their organization are, in effect, being given the opportunity to be that pebble. For Integrative Leadership, the essence of that pebble is “informed mindfulness.” Informed mindfulness is a concept that connects mindful self-awareness and self-regulation with educated decisionmaking. The mindful person is aware, non-judgmentally, of what is occurring in the present moment and understands that his or her response is a choice. With informed mindfulness, as situations arise and decision points are faced, that same person is able to place what is happening in its larger context and, having clear values and being sufficiently educated, make an informed choice within that moment. This concept—self-awareness and self-regulation coupled with knowledge, skills, values, and wisdom—forms the foundation of Integrative Leadership. Leaders who have developed informed mindfulness are aware of how they operate in the world with and in relationship to the qualities of integrity, authenticity, compassion, courage, empathy, humility, and passion. They are committed to increasing their own capacities for these qualities, not just for selfimprovement but also as a means to bring about cultural transformation and social change. When mindfully informed leaders enter the pond, they make waves that ripple out from themselves to others. The Integrative Leader understands that every success is dependent upon nurturing insightful, functional relationships with others