Radical Reframe
By Les Mottosky
Habits. They're everything. Few principles are truer than the idea that we don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training. And there's one counter-to-human-nature habit good leaders have trained themselves to the point that it defines them.
Before we get there, let's look at what many consider a deep insight into human nature.
For efficiency we'll explore a quote penned by Joseph Campbell. (Interesting to some perhaps, this idea famously inspired the story arc of Star Wars):
"The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek."
An update has hit the socials for people less familiar with Campbell's work or those who don't dig metaphors. It also adds a revealing twist:
"The strongest version of you is buried under the habits you're afraid to break."
This is a powerful paraphrase. The message is sharper and more direct than Campbell's original. It calls out the specific mechanism: habits are the problem. And fear is the symptom.
Every effective leader I've worked with, worked for or known, understood that action is the antidote to fear. Without exception. So the "magical" habit they cultivated was taking action in the face of discomfort, fear or hopelessness. It wasn't even a decision, it had become habit.
Pop culture has fed us the concept that intensity is what wins the battle, the game or the lover. But in real life this is simply not true. When intensity is the thing that tips the scale in our favour, it's because it's the cherry on top of steadiness. It's because our habits put us in a place to apply momentary, concentrated effort that finishes the job.
The defining characteristic of leadership is the willingness for people to follow. This won't – it can't – occur if a pattern of effective action hasn't been observed and established. Either directly or through reputation.
This is where trust grows. But before trustworthiness can flow from others, it must be entrenched in ourselves. One of the fastest ways to do this is breaking a habit that serves stagnation.
And leaders break bad habits as a matter of habit.
TAGS: #Radical Reframe #Wisdom In Leadership #Curiosity Is Our Nature #Adaptation As Innovation #Breaking Bad Habits
Les Mottosky
Adaptation Strategist // I help organizations turn creativity into their competitive advantage by aligning leadership, culture and strategy to unlock adaptive innovations. It's not easy. But it's simple.
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