Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt the energy shift before a single word was spoken? What if leadership isn’t just about what you say or do, but the energy you broadcast every day?
In this episode of the Spirituality in Leadership podcast, Andrew Cohn sits down with executive coach Anna Pool to explore the true frequency of leadership and how our internal state quietly shapes every meeting, decision, and connection. Anna’s story is extraordinary. She spent 20 years in an ashram devoted to meditation, yoga, and service before her spiritual community collapsed under the weight of betrayal. That loss became her greatest teacher, leading her from the ashram to the boardroom, where she now helps leaders embody authentic, energetic presence.
Together, they unpack Dr. David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness and what it reveals about courage, fear, and the “green zone” of leadership, where creativity and clarity thrive. Anna shares how awareness and intention can transform not only your leadership, but the very atmosphere around you.
It’s a fascinating look at how to lead with your energy, not just your words, and why what you broadcast matters more than you think.
Key Takeaways
Your Energy Precedes You: Leaders are constantly broadcasting an emotional frequency that directly impacts team morale, engagement, and psychological safety.
The Map of Consciousness: A visual model for understanding emotional states, from reactive, low-frequency zones (shame, fear, anger) to creative, high-frequency zones (courage, acceptance, love).
Courage is the Threshold: Effective, purposeful leadership becomes consistently accessible at the level of "Courage," where we move from reactivity to possibility and choice.
Non-Judgmental Self-Awareness is Key: The most critical skill for spiritual and leadership growth is the ability to observe your own state without criticism, creating space for conscious change.
Practical Resets Work: Simple interventions like brief guided meditations or "green zone exercises" can quickly shift a group's energy, leading to more productive and insightful outcomes.
Executive Presence Reimagined: The elusive quality of "executive presence" is deeply connected to one's ability to broadcast calm, confident, and creative frequencies.
In This Episode:
[00:01] Anna’s ashram years and early awakening
[04:44] What led her to drop out of college and join the community
[08:41] Roles and leadership within the ashram
[09:51] Marriage, vows, and challenges of communal life
[10:49] The scandal that changed everything
[12:57] Transitioning from ashram life to professional coaching
[16:07] Discovering Dr. David Hawkins’ Map of Consciousness
[20:42] The importance of non-judgmental self-awareness
[23:36] Connecting spiritual insight to corporate leadership
[24:48] The “green zone” and the courage frequency
[30:38] Feeling versus thinking, how emotion drives energy
[33:09] How leaders broadcast energy and influence others
[36:13] Introducing spirituality in business without alienating teams
[38:18] Redefining executive presence through vibrational leadership
[41:17] Anna’s book on possibility thinking
[42:21] The “green zone” mindfulness exercise
[43:31] Why energy work belongs in every leadership toolkit
[45:07] Where to find and connect with Anna
Resources and Links
Spirituality in Leadership Podcast
Anna Pool
Andrew Cohn
Website: htt
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