In today’s outcome-driven world, it’s easy to equate success with happiness.
But the reality can look quite different.
"I had sort of grown up with this mindset that if you achieve X and Y and Z, then that's going to equal happiness. But actually, that's not the case," Jim Barnett, CEO of Wisq, shared on a recent episode The Conscious Entrepreneur, hosted by Alex Raymond, the Founder of Conscious Entrepreneur and the AMplify.
Jim’s career path led him to work with highly successful leaders, from the entertainment industry to private equity. But there was a common theme: despite their outward achievements, many of these leaders weren’t happy.
This realization was a turning point for him, prompting an exploration of happiness and consciousness for several decades.
A Path to Meditation and Conscious Leadership
Jim’s journey into self-awareness began with an unlikely tool for the 90s business world: meditation.
"I went on this one-day retreat, and I fell in love with meditation," he recalls. Jim adopted a daily meditation practice, and over time, began to understand new perspectives on life and leadership.
As he continued down this path, Jim sought out coaches and mentors who could help him deepen his understanding of consciousness. One of these mentors was Diana Chapman, founding partner of the Conscious Leadership Group.
Jim gradually shifted his focus from being purely outcome-driven to leading with intention, awareness, and authenticity.
He explains, "I lead more from a place of awareness, authenticity, and intentionality... just a little more purpose-driven and less outcome-focused."
The Role of Conscious Leadership in Business
Over time, Jim said on the podcast, he realized that leadership is more than achieving goals or hitting targets; it's about helping people find purpose and happiness in their work.
This epiphany led him to make a bold decision—he walked away from a successful company that he had founded. Despite the financial success, Jim wasn't passionate about the work anymore. It wasn’t an easy decision.
“I woke up and said, ‘You know, I don’t really want to do this... What I’m passionate about is helping people be happier and more successful at work.’”
Jim relied on his work with Diana Chapman—including the concept that one should make decisions based on authenticity and purpose—to consider the possibility that leaving might actually be the best decision for him and the company. It was a radical shift in thinking.
"I've been working with Diana for 14 years, and Conscious Leadership Group has worked with my companies for more than 10 years," Jim said. "I just started committing to leading my life in a more conscious way and to leading my companies in a more conscious way."
How AI Supports Managers and HR Practices
A good manager does more than just oversee tasks. They set clear goals, communicate effectively, and make sure their team feels valued. But many managers fall short because they haven’t been trained properly.
“Too often, we promote top performers into management without giving them the tools they need,” Jim said. Technical skills don’t automatically translate into leadership skills, and manager trainings are often limited engagements. Jim gave an example: you wouldn’t expect someone to become a golf pro after one lesson, so why expect managers to succeed after a brief training?
Leadership coaching and training should be a continuous journey.
Wisq, an AI coach and copilot, is addressing this issue head-on. During Jim's time at Glint, he realized that while employee engagement surveys provided valuable data, many managers didn’t know what to do with the feedback. They had the information, but not the support to act on it.
“We were giving managers the data, but we weren’t helping them become better managers,” he explained.
This gap between feedback and action is a common problem. Managers face countless people-related challenges—conflict resolution, performance issues, team dynamics—and they often feel overwhelmed.
Jim envisions every manager having an AI coach and copilot to guide them through these difficult moments. AI won't replace human judgment, but it provides real-time, actionable advice when managers need it most.
Embracing Conscious Leadership in Company Culture
"One cheat code for approaching anything consciously is to approach it with curiosity," Jim shared with Alex.
"If you come from a place of 'I’m right, they’re wrong,' that’s not likely to lead to the best outcome," he continued. By coming from a place of curiosity, leaders create an environment where growth is possible.
Jim also talked about the importance of values. It’s one thing to list company values on a website, he said, but it’s another to live them every day. Jim emphasized that leadership is about showing up and treating others with respect and integrity.
That’s how real culture is built.
“A company’s culture isn’t defined by what’s written on the walls. It’s defined by how leaders behave and how employees are treated,” Jim explained. Employees notice when actions don’t align with stated values, and trust erodes quickly.
Key Takeaways for Leaders: Foster a Strong Culture from Day 1
Jim’s advice for leaders is straightforward: Be intentional. Don’t leave culture to chance. It’s tempting to focus only on business goals, but in the long run, a strong, people-first culture will drive better results.
Here are a few steps to doing so:
- Set expectations early. Employees need to know what’s expected from them and why it matters.
- Prioritize ongoing feedback. Create a system where managers and employees can continuously improve through regular coaching.
- Lead by example. Your actions, not just your words, should reflect the company’s core values.
Listen to the full podcast episode.