Being a good leader requires a host of skills that, at first, may not seem like they are related. But Naropa University's Susan Skjei suggests that you can join head, heart, and hands to develop your own style of authentic leadership. "The tougher things get, the more people want to be entrenched in the same old ways," Skjei says, discussing the thinking patterns that can hold us back. She outlines a few ways we can break through the patterns that trap us and turn them into opportunities. She shares:

• What the concept of "authenticity" actually means
• How "knowing yourself" must be a practice where you are not fixed, but open to becoming and evolving
• How, once you become familiar with authenticity, you can encourage others to incorporate the concept into their own methods
• How engaging with differences can create exciting opportunities for creativity
• How to embody and manifest change

"Many high tech organizations are really understanding that mindfulness is a very important quality to develop—to which I would add that, yes, it's important, but not merely as a tool for more efficiency, but as a tool for more self-awareness and insight, particularly for leaders." If developing your own style of authentic leadership is something that intrigues you, we recommend checking out Naropa University's brand new Authentic Leadership Certificate Program so that you can go deeper on this topic with leadership consultants like Susan Skjei, Jerry Colonna, Diane Musho Hamilton, and others. The program runs January 12–May 8, 2015. Becoming a leader isn't just for CEOs. We all lead in our own way, and amassing some skills to hone the positive effect you can have on others is one of the best uses of your out-of-office time.