The Power of Habits: Small Changes, Big Leadership Impact Part 2
Every leader has habits — some help, others hinder.
The challenge is that bad habits run on autopilot. Left unchecked, they quietly erode your effectiveness and your team’s trust. The good news? Habits can be reshaped.
Here are some ways to get started:
1. Spot the Invisible Habits That Hold You Back
Many habits hide in plain sight.
Example: Constantly checking your phone in meetings signals distraction.
Impact: Over time, the team feels undervalued and disengaged.
“Chains of habit are too light to be felt until they are too heavy to be broken.” — Warren Buffett
2. Awareness is the First Step Toward Change
You can’t change what you don’t notice.
Example: Ask a trusted colleague to point out behaviors you may overlook.
Impact: Leaders who model openness to feedback demonstrate humility and growth.
3. Replace, Don’t Just Remove
Habits stick because they serve a purpose. To change, you must replace them.
Example: Instead of multitasking in one-on-ones, take notes that prove you’re listening.
Impact: You gain credibility while reinforcing focus.
4. Small Wins Create Momentum
Change doesn’t happen overnight.
Example: A leader who commits to responding to emails within 24 hours models reliability.
Impact: Small visible changes encourage the team to improve their own habits.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” — Aristotle
Think About
What’s one habit you’ve developed that may undermine your effectiveness?
How does it influence how your team sees you?
Action Step
Choose one unhelpful habit. Write down the trigger, routine, and reward. Then design a positive replacement that sends the right signal. Practice it for a week.
As you do, ask yourself:
What are you noticing?
How does this new version feel to you?
Will you keep this as your new habit and discard the old one?
Wenkroy International LLC is a Professional Advisory company with a main purpose of helping entrepreneurs and business people create the strategy, the plan and the steps necessary to achieve that person’s vision for their business and often their life, while navigating the obstacles which may be blocking them from reaching their goals. The process may involve one on one coaching, advising, laser focus days, personal growth workshops and more. The methods utilized are determined together. The results and value positively impact individuals, teams, divisions and across entire companies. People are now able to focus on what matters most to them, because, they have clarity on where they are heading.
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