Most leadership development focuses on leading others and leading organizations. But the most important leadership starts from within.
That’s why Zinata launched its inaugural Leadership Book Club in January 2026, bringing together leaders for a five-session exploration of The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership by Jim Dethmer, Diana Chapman, and Kaley Warner Klemp.
About the Book
The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership offers a practical framework for developing self-awareness and shifting how we show up as leaders. At its core is a simple but powerful question: Are you leading from above the line (open, curious, committed to learning) or below the line (closed, defensive, committed to being right)?
The book walks through 15 commitments that help leaders move from reactive patterns toward greater presence, responsibility, and authenticity.
About the Series
This virtual series ran bi-weekly from January 15 through March 12, 2026. Each 90-minute session was led by Professor Melissa Riley Bradford of DePaul University and Tracy Kosiarek, Zinata Principal Consultant and Change Management expert.
Participants joined from across industries for guided discussion, reflection exercises, and practical application of conscious leadership principles.
Session Overview
Session 1 | January 15 | Introduction & Commitments 1–2 (Pages 1–79)
We explored the foundation of conscious leadership: the concept of leading from above or below the line, radical responsibility, and learning through curiosity. The Drama Triangle (victim, villain, hero) gave us a framework for understanding how we avoid responsibility, while the four ways of leading (to me, by me, through me, as me) opened new perspectives on our relationship to circumstances.
Session 2 | January 29 | Commitments 3–5 (Pages 80–151)
The conversation turned to feeling all feelings, speaking candidly, and eliminating gossip. We examined how suppressing emotions affects our leadership and explored what it means to communicate with radical honesty while maintaining connection.
Session 3 | February 12 | Commitments 6–8 (Pages 152–203)
Integrity, appreciation, and genius took center stage. We discovered that integrity isn’t about perfection but about wholeness. Many participants found it harder to receive appreciation than to give it. And we explored the difference between our zones of competence, excellence, and genius.
Session 4 | February 26 | Commitments 9–12 (Pages 204–265)
We challenged assumptions about play, rest, and sufficiency. What are our dominant modes of play? How do we question stressful thoughts by exploring their opposites? Where do we source approval, control, and security? The session closed with the powerful idea that sufficiency isn’t an amount but an experience we generate from within.
Session 5 | March 12 | Commitments 13–15 (Pages 266–321)
Our final session brought the series full circle, exploring the remaining commitments and reflecting on how these principles show up in real leadership challenges.
Session Handouts
Download the reflection journals and resources from each session:
Session 1 Handout: Download PDF
Session 2 Handout: Download PDF
Session 3 Handout: Download PDF
Session 4 Handout: Download PDF
Session 5 Handout: Download PDF
Looking Ahead
This was Zinata’s first leadership book club, and it won’t be the last. Check back for announcements about future book club series.
