HABITS

Jan

2021

The Power of A Single Habit

Most years I am in the gym in January and it is packed. I cannot get on equipment because everyone is pursuing their New Year’s resolution to lose weight. There is lots of energy and many people. This year has been similar, but not as many people.

Then the middle of January hits.

The numbers are back to what they used to be. People tried, but didn’t create a habit. Maybe this is you already. In his book The Power of Habit Charles Duhigg discusses the process of building habits which you can read here. According to cognitive neuroscientist expert Caroline Leaf, it takes 21 days to change a habit at a neurophysiological level and 63 days to make it permanent!

When we’ve made this change we have created something lasting.

Keystone Habits

I have a friend who recently started training to run a mini-marathon. In the beginning he was getting up and running on a daily basis. Around the time the weather got colder he had a few weeks lull in his training. Do you know what happened?

Not only was he not performing at his peak physically, but his performance and focus at work dropped as well. This illustrates the power of a what Duhigg calls a keystone habit.

“keystone habits encourage change: by creating structures that help other habits to flourish.”

My friend had developed a habit that impacted everything else in his life in a positive way. This key habit can be a personal change or an organizational habit change. Maybe in your organization by changing the order taking and filling process everything else will be positively and powerfully impacted. This is a keystone habit.

Willpower

Just like my friend, it takes willpower . . . at least in the beginning. Whether organizationally within a culture or on a personal level Duhigg found:

“Dozens of studies show that willpower is the single most important keystone habit for individual success.”

If it requires over three months for a habit to be permanently ingrained, then as leaders we have to be disciplined to promote the change in our culture. The change starts with us. My friend joined a gym so he could run and strength train and began seeing his performance at work improve again, but he had to choose that path.

Make it Personal

We all have felt the exhaustion of driving on pure willpower. We can only push so hard for so long and as leaders we do not want to be “pushing” our teams all the time. What can help make the shift? Again, Duhigg makes an excellent observation:

“When people are asked to do something that takes self-control, if they think they are doing for personal reasons – if they feel like it’s a choice or something they enjoy because it helps someone else – it’s much less taxing.”

If we are making a personal habit change this idea is simple, but applying this on an organizational level is more challenging. Take time to help individuals align this key habit with their personal goals and the habit will stick. When our team personalizes and sees the value of the habit for them, we shift from pushing to a keystone habit.

What is the one key habit that would impact multiple areas of your life personally? If you lead an organization or team what key habit would most impact results? Need help thinking into this? Contact me for a no cost one on one thinking partner session. Lead Well.

May

2019

I’m Not Feeling It

I was in the gym working out one Monday and a person I’ve gotten to know said “I’m not feeling it.” When I was a strength coach if I got a quarter for every time someone said that I could have bought a house on a beach somewhere.

We all say this in some way or another. When we allow our feelings to dictate our performance we are setting ourselves up for big problems and poor results.

As a leader you may never struggle with this, but I know the most difficult person for me to lead is the guy I look at in the mirror every morning. What can we do when we are not feeling like . . . or what can we do to help those around us struggling with a similar challenge?

GET IN MOTION

I have heard it said that emotion is simply energy in motion. Yes, there are days we get up and the weather is not agreeable, or we look at our to do list and see challenges we do not want to face. We simply take the first step.

To build on the idea of exercise, imagine the second day back from working out after a long break. We are sore and can barely move, but we crawl out of bed and slowly start moving. As we get in motion and muscles loosen, we feel better and eventually the emotion comes. We must take the first step though.

CONSISTENCY

Leadership expert John Maxwell says, “consistency compounds.” We feed a habit and a mindset by what we do consistently as leaders. If I continually berate those I lead then I will get the compounding effect of low morale. On the other hand, if I continually lift others up and encourage them, I will get the opposite effect.

As we consistently move into motion our emotion will catch up. Another way this has been said is “motivation gets you going, but discipline keeps you growing.”¹ Regular consistent discipline will keep you and your team moving in the direction that will help you achieve your goals.

ROUTINE

What do you do at the beginning of every day? What about around lunch time? In the evening? Do these habits create a routine that will keep your energy and enthusiasm high?

We all have habits which are created out of our routines. Each morning I get up shave, go downstairs to eat, read, and journal. This routine gets me moving and gets my mind going in a positive direction. I am a person of many routines, but at times I need to evaluate whether these routines are moving me in the direction of my goal or not.

What about you? What helps you when you are “not feeling it”? Is there a routine you need to change? Are you consistent in the right things? Whatever is holding you back, get in motion and take the first step to help yourself and those you lead perform at a higher level. Lead well.

Maxwell, John C. 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth.

Apr

2019

How do We Change Our Habits as Leaders?

I roll out of bed each morning, say thank you for a new day and slide my feet across the carpet as I head to the bathroom. Next I turn on the water to let it warm up in preparation for my morning shave. Later I sit at the kitchen table reading, journaling and eating my oatmeal.

This routine has been in place in some way or another for over twenty years. What is the point? Am I obsessive compulsive . . . maybe a little, but it creates a habit that provides the reward of improving my focus for the entire day.

I recently read the book The Power of Habit* In this book he describes how we form and change our habits. The beginning of the book contains a cycle we follow to develop habits which you can see below.

https://lancegoyke.com/book-review-the-power-of-habit-by-charles-duhigg

I do not have the time to go in depth on this discussion, but want to explore one aspect and how it impacts the way we lead ourselves and others.

CUE

As leaders something moves us forward toward the goal we are pursuing. That something may be financial reward, seeing lives transformed, a goal for the team, or any number of other triggers. Maybe we are not on target to hit our revenue goals or personally we are sick of being overweight. These frustrations create a cue that ties to an emotion and moves us into action.

REWARD

This is the goal we are pursuing such as a decrease in weight for improved health. Maybe the reward is a bonus check when we hit a revenue goal or another incentive. If you lead in the non-profit sector maybe the reward is some form of transformation or meeting a need. Something keeps us in motion once we have received the cue.

ROUTINE

This is where change occurs. Does your organization have a routine of taking coffee breaks frequently to get a mental break, but in the process productivity decreases? Duhigg suggests this is the area where we change our habits. People need breaks, but how can that break be modified into a different habit that maintains productivity? What if the break were an exercise break or a team brainstorming session or a walk to clear your mind?

Maybe the routine is personal. When I get bored, I have to be consciously aware if I am eating out of boredom or hunger. Instead of eating I have to create a new routine such as engaging with my family or a friend. If I have to choose between eating junk food and reading a book obviously one is a routine that will benefit me in the long term more than another.

One aspect of changing a habit is to introduce a new routine that will provide the reward you want. So what routine do you need to change? What is the first step? What habits do you have as a leader that may be derailing you and your team? Change is possible and starts with awareness. Allow me to come alongside you to help you think into your leadership results. Lead well.

*As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Apr

2018

What a Car Show Taught Me About Leadership: Part II

Last week I told how my son persuaded me to experience a car show where I talked to some of the exhibiters about what it takes to rebuild a car similar to the pictures you saw in my previous post. I gave four principles last time, but I want to expand on one of them in this post.

At one exhibit I was talking to the man who did all the work to rebuild one of the cars. As I said before, these cars often start out as rusty and quite rotten, but they transform them into a beautiful classic worthy of a showroom floor. I asked the man, how long does this take? I found his reply very pertinent to what I need to do in order to lead well at work and home. He said “I do a little bit everyday no matter what.”

After he said this it made me pause and think for a minute. No matter what industry we are in or what goal we are pursuing this principle is profoundly true. Our daily habits and disciplines determine the results we get. This man took a little time every day to do something on the car and eventually after a couple years turned it into what you see above. Do you want to lead better at work or home? What daily habits do you perform to help you get to your goal?

Time to Think – Create time and space to think in your day. I know we are all busy, but what if instead of scrolling through social media on our phones when we are waiting we allow ourselves to think freely. Who knows we may gain a new insight Facebook or Twitter may not have brought to mind. Block out a specific amount of time to intentionally think into your personal and professional growth.

Time to Read – I have heard it said that readers are leaders. Do you create time in your schedule to read books or other material that is mind expanding? Find out some of the books high level leaders read and get them in your hands to read and absorb. As a start authors like Jim Collins, Patrick Lencioni, Steven Covey, and John Maxwell are a few that have helped expand my thinking not to mention classics like Dale Carnegie and Norman Vincent Peale. Create the time, maybe just fifteen or twenty minutes while walking on a treadmill or some type of audio while driving.

Time to Listen – I am a doer and I have to intentionally create time to stop and listen to those who matter most. I may ask my wife or co-worker how they are doing, but do I have the habit of stopping to listen? If you are like me you may need to create the habit of intentionally slowing down to not just hear what others are saying, but actively listen.

Time to Do – We are all busy, but are we productive? Take time to evaluate what you are doing and make sure it creates the habits that will get you to your goal. Do you do the important, but not urgent activities that will give you more sales, develop leaders, build your relationships with those you love? Evaluate what you do so the seeds of activity become productive fruit.

Think through your habits today and decide if there is one you need to change, remove or add. You don’t have to do it all at once. A cathedral is built one brick at a time similarly a transformed life will be built one habit at a time. What transformational habit do you need to begin today?

Mar

2018

What’s Discipline Have to Do With Leadership?

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”

Thomas Edison

I have three boys and one of them is nearing the teenage years. He is a great young man, but likes to test the boundaries as all teenagers do. One of those boundaries is the expectation to do chores in a timely fashion. At times he will put them off until the last possible minute unless there is a consequence to motivate him such as losing time in front of one of the multiple screens he is permitted to use.

For some reason in certain areas of life we don’t grow out of this habit of procrastination. The reality is we resist discipline. I decided to look up the definition of discipline and I found a couple.

The first came from the online dictionary and said: “the practice of training people to obey rules or a code of behavior”

Wikipedia, which may or may not be reliable, provided the second: “discipline is action or inaction that is regulated to be in accordance with a system of governance.”

I found the second definition more appropriate for what we are talking about. Discipline is required in order to act and accomplish that we are pursuing. As a person with a family and many responsibilities discipline is critical for my success in leading at work and home. I have found there are multiple areas where I need to grow in my discipline. As I provide this short list maybe it will prompt you to think of an area you need to grow in your discipline.

Thinking – A leader must create time to think into their results. I know some people who find the time they spend thinking into their priorities and where to focus their leadership to be the most valuable time they have. This time may be guided with a coach or other resources. If I am constantly doing and never thinking intentionally then it will hinder me living and leading at my full capacity.

Health and Fitness – I have always enjoyed exercise and it keeps my eating addiction at bay, but I have found this to become a time at the beginning of my day that provides more time to think and release some stress. Now I need to grow in my discipline of the amount of sweets I eat because I have a lack of discipline in that area.

Mindset – I can be a very self-critical individual. I can play stories in my mind that prevent me from moving into action to accomplish my personal and professional goals. I have some big goals and I need reminders to be courageous and Bible verses help me, but for you it may be a quote such as the one at the beginning of this post. I have to keep my mind filtered and not listen to the excuses, but instead focus on that which will move me toward my goal. I will have to dive deeper into this topic in another post, but know we need to discipline our minds by focusing our thoughts on what will keep us positive.

Growth Habits – I don’t know what you lead and what you are pursuing, but let me share with you some of the habits that leadership expert John Maxwell has each day that helps him grow. He reads, he writes, and thinks each day plus a couple other habits. Are these first two habits you need to develop so you can continually grow as a leader? Maybe it is reading a specific book each day on your field of study or on how to lead better or studying the life of a successful leader. I don’t know what your growth habits would be, but I know I need to be intentional about reading so I can bring value to you and writing helps me clarify my thinking.

The quote from Thomas Edison at the top summarizes the challenge we all face. Will we develop the discipline (which requires hard work) to set us up for taking advantage of opportunities when they come our way. Take a few minutes today and look at your daily or weekly schedule. Where can you exchange time that is spent doing activity that is not purposeful for time to develop one of the disciplines above? Maybe exchange thirty minutes in front of the TV for reading time or fifteen minutes mindlessly looking at social media for some intentional thinking? Whatever the discipline, put it on your calendar, tell someone who will hold you accountable, and as I have heard a successful individual say: Dream big, start small, and do something. Grow your discipline in one area and watch as you become a better leader at work and home. If you need a coach to help you through the process, contact me and let’s talk. Lead well my friend.

Oct

2017

Are You A Leader?

I was standing in front of a class of High School Freshmen and Sophomores. I asked one question: do you think you are a leader? A few hands went up. Some of them were bold and confident while others were hesitant and unsure. The majority kept their hands down. I then shared a story with these young men and women.

When I was a teenager I sat next to a random group of guys my Junior year. One day we were talking, well I was listening, and this individual shared his story of evading a police officer to get a ticket. The story was entertaining and I will spare you all the details, but later it must have been subconsciously in my mind.

I was driving out of my neighborhood in my parents 80’s Cutlass Calais . . . which is not known for speed like my friends car was. I was going about 40 MPH in a 25 MPH zone when I saw a police officer. Like a smart teenager at the time as I saw him turn around I slammed on the gas whipping through neighborhoods, as fast as a car that peaks at about 100 MPH can. Eventually it dawns on me that I am not going to get away and I pull over.

As I shared that story with the students I brought to their attention the reality that I was being led by the people at my table. How? Influence. Leadership is influence and we are leading people we live with, work with, and have fun with every day whether we know it or not.

I don’t know about you, but many times I feel like I am not influencing anyone and at other times . . . like when I see my children act out negative behavior . . . I question whether I am using my influence well. What are ways we use our influence? Here are a few to consider:

Work habits – those closest to us at work and home see how we work and if we procrastinate or get our responsibilities completed in a timely fashion. If we are a formal or informal leader to them then we influence the kind of work habits they develop or will demonstrate.
People habits – as a parent I see my poor influence on handling conflict. I am a bit impatient and tend to raise my voice instead of remaining calm when the tension rises between siblings. As these boys have aged I see they have caught that and they tend to raise their voices at each other and escalate conflict instead of deescalating it. Maybe if I learn how to remain calm it will influence them.
Time habits – at work do the people around me see an appropriate balance between work and personal life? Do people see that I am productive and manage my time in a way that gets results while leaving room for building relationships? At home do we run from activity to activity or is there intentional down time to connect with one another which may be as simple as a regular meal together.

Whether at work or home we are always leading ourselves and others. These were just a few areas we are influencing others. Do you want to grow in your influence? Do you want to become more intentional in leading in a manner that influences others in the right direction and know you are not alone? What is one way today you can lead yourself and others in work, people and time? Let me know so I can learn from you.