First we make our habits, then they make us.
John Dryden – 1600’s English poet
How much of your day is spent operating according to habits? Do you have unconscious routines as you get ready for work every morning, drive to work, conduct meetings, prepare paperwork, and relax at night? Of course, we all have habits (the good, the bad, and the ugly) that we use throughout the day. However, the real question isn’t, do you have habits? Rather, it is do your habits have you?
Habits began as simple actions that are repeated over the time, thereby becoming unconscious routines (i.e., habits). Yet only a few, highly effective leaders (of the 10,000 I’ve taught/coached) have used the power of habits to develop the critical leadership competencies needed to excel.
Here are seven simple steps to help you quickly turn any competency you need to acquire into a powerful, positive leadership habit.
Transform Core Competencies into Leadership Habits
I. Write a goal for the competency you want to turn into a habit. Focus on a small, relatively simple goal competency. It’s easier to begin a journey when you have a high probability of reaching your destination. For example, when my UCLA team and I heard Steven Covey present his “Seven Habits,” I wrote the following goal to improve my skill of habit number five (Seek First Understand, Then to Be Understood): “I will seek first understand (SFU) during seven conversations every day this month.”
II. Learn as much as possible about this competency. What books or audio-programs are available? Do you know anyone who performs this competency well?
III. Decide how to measure your progress. Choose a method to record when your performance. You may want to video or record yourself. When I wanted to increase my SFU competency, I recorded my phone conversations (not the other person, just me).
IV. Try this competency in a safe environment. Safe environments are the training wheels of new competencies. Olympic gymnasts practice new skills in a safety harness. Rehearse your new competency in the car, at home, or with a friend. Then try it in a low risk environment. I practiced my SFU competency in my office while conversing on the phone.
V. Evaluate the competency. Assess your “performance” after trying the skill. I recommend that you employ the “sandwich” technique. Begin this evaluation process by listing what went well. Next, write a few thoughts about what did not go as planned and what you learned that would help the next time. Complete this step by refocusing on the positive.
VI. Reward yourself for taking action. Positive feedback will keep you motivated and on track. These pat-yourself-on-the-back rewards increase the probability that you’ll try, try, try again, especially when at first you don’t succeed. I would often dash to our cafeteria and enjoy a frozen yogurt to reward my effort.
VII. Link an old habit to the new competency. This final, and most critical, step connects an action you currently perform routinely (i.e., old habit) to the new competency that you want to become a habit. Think of it like this: Old Habit + New Competency = New Habit
This last step was instrumental in anchoring my new habit of SFU. I accomplished this by linking an old habit (taking notes during conversations) to the new competency (SFU) by writing the letters SFU at the top of the notepad, prior to every conversation. Every time I glanced down at my notepad, it reminded me to SFU. Seeking first to understand went from a learned competency to new habit in no time because I used this linking strategy. Listed below are six ways to leverage old habits with new skills.
A. Index cards. Write your competency on a 3×5-index card. Place the card in your pocket. Practice the competency whenever put your hand in your pocket.
B. Watch. Program your watch to beep on the hour. Use the beep as a signal to use the new competency.
C. Mirror. Slightly tilt the rearview mirror in your car. Every time you notice that the mirror is askew, rehearse the competency or tell yourself aloud how you are applying it today.
D. Appointment book. Write a word or two in your calendar (or whatever tool you use to organize your time). It will prompt you to practice your new competency.
E. Post-it-notes. Write your competency on a post-it-note. Place the note on your phone, computer, or something you see frequently to encourage you to make progress toward your goal.
F. Pocket change. Put seven coins in your right pocket of your slacks. Every time you put your hand in your right pocket, move one coin from the right pocket to the left pocket and remind yourself to practice your new competency. Small change over time makes a BIG difference.
Leaders follow habits all day. Most of these habits have evolved over many years. Yet few leaders have mastered the process of translating desired competencies into powerful habits. Now you do!
Which leadership competency should you work on first? Click here for more info about the research-based, online 360-leadership assessment (XLM): http://xlmassessment.com/ ). The 25-page report will show you how to focus on the one or two competencies that will give you the biggest bang for your buck.
Sow a thought, reap an action,
Sow an action, reap a habit,
Sow a habit, reap a character,
Sow a character, reap a destiny.
Charles Reade – 1800’s English novelist
Keep on eXpanding your leadership,
Dave
P.S. Dave Jensen and his team transform proven leadership tools into your success stories. Dave is an executive coach and an engaging leadership speaker at conferences, meetings, and workshops. He can be reached in Los Angeles, CA at (310) 397-6686. Click here for more info about the research-based, online 360-leadership assessment (XLM): http://xlmassessment.com/ )
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