Michael Chaskalson
Partner
What’s he like?
He’s thoughtful and kind. Attentive, open, calm and focussed.
He’s really curious about how systems and people come to be as they are. And he’s passionate about exploring that in the service of enabling change for the better. He’s conscientious and works hard to be as clear kind and truthful as he can be.
He comes alive in groups, especially when helping leaders and teams engage in exploring the inner and outer processes that produce their experience.
Michael is comfortable working across the spectrum in organisations, he’s at ease with individuals, teams and Boards whether they be large groups or small.
There’s a twinkle in his eye that hints at his sense of humour and his simple delight in just being alive.
Michael adores art, good food, good conversation.
What’s he done?
He started to practice mindfulness 45 years ago – before it was ever a thing. Went at that pretty full-on – founding and running urban meditation centres and living in rural retreat centres. He had a spell as an entrepreneur, founding a fair-trade company that came to employ around 200 people, at its peak giving away £1 million a year.
Since 2005 he’s worked to bring his experience to leaders, teams and organisations – around the world and in all sectors. He’s coached CEOs, spoken at conferences, facilitated on large change programmes, taught at business schools and written four books about mindfulness in its various applications – including the agenda setting Mindful Workplace and the bestselling Mindfulness in Eight Weeks.
He’s a Professor of Practice at Ashridge Executive Education and an Associate the Müller Institute at Churchill College in the University of Cambridge. He co-led a world first research study into the outcomes of Mindful Leader training. He’s co-written research papers, practitioner articles and book chapters and reviews papers for academic journals.
Why does he bother?
He cares deeply about making the world a better place and humanising the world of work.
Is he qualified?
He has a master’s in the clinical applications of mindfulness (and was the first person in the world to get such a thing) and all of his teaching is informed by his understanding of the psychology and cognitive science that underpins the approach. That’s been helpful. Much more so has been his thousands of hours of experience working to help people better understand their how their minds produce their experience and how that might affect others.
Some quotes to know him by
“The curious paradox is that when I accept myself just as I am, then I can change.”
Carl Rogers
“Whatever your mind frequently turns to, that will shape it”
The Buddha
“Only connect”
EM Forster
Back to team