Reflection Point – Routines to sustain you

The last 3 weeks I’ve been adjusting and settling into new routines as we relocated temporarily for renovations.  I found very quickly the usual routines were largely no longer working with a different living arrangement in a different location, and I have had to be more conscious and intentional around the habits that will support me well through this time of transition.

A recent client was also talking about routines, reminding me of the conscious importance of them.  Do you have routines in your work, routines in your leadership, routines for your life that support you to operate effectively?

The challenge that arises regularly with leaders I meet is how the routines or habits that best serve their leadership are put on hold as intensifying workloads and time-sensitive commitments start to put additional pressure on their time.  The irony is that the very things that normally sustain for performance and wellbeing become lost, and this tends to create a feeling of reactivity.  This can have impact at many levels; on leadership, on individual and organisational performance, on family or personal life, on a lost sense of “flow”.

Put simply, the routines or habits we intentionally create for leading our self and leading others – and the routines we intentionally create for our life and family support us to lead effectively, for sustained performance and wellbeing.  When we don’t lead our selves well and lead others well, it has an impact.

One of the many studies that looks at the habits of highly effective leaders is by The Leadership Circle.  Researched and written by Roma Gaster and Padraig O’Sullivan, the study findings summarise that effective leaders who are impactful, mindful and present include the following regular habits in their routines:-

• Intentional daily habits planning that support their leadership presence

• Decision making and workload planning aligned with strategic goals

• Frequent reflection on behaviours and alignment with outcomes·

Take a few minutes to consider the following reflection questions, as I am 🙂 as we end the week.

Question 1

What routines or habits currently support your leadership and others well – are these conscious or unconscious?

Question 2

How might you bring more intention to the unconscious habits that serve you well, to become regular and intentional?

Question 3

As you approach the end of the year, what signals will tell you it’s time to recalibrate your routines or habits to better support your leadership, energy, focus and impact?