In The 15 Commitments of Conscious Leadership, Jim Dethmer and Diana Chapman introduced a very simple yet powerful model to help increase self-awareness. This model is extremely simple: a single line. The authors argue that, at any time, you’re either above or below the line. When you’re above the line, you’re open, curious and willing to learn, but when you’re below the line, you want to be correct and, as a result, you tend to be defensive and closed to new ideas. Put it simply, when you’re above the line you’re conscious, when you’re below the line you’re unconscious.
