So, be honest, how are you doing on your New Year’s Resolutions? That bad, eh?
Me? I am doing great thanks to the most helpful book I’ve read in years. The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg, has been nothing less than a revelation. After trying to years to change my most plaguing bad habit and repeatedly attempting start a new habit I earnestly desire, I am finally succeeding. My success is due to the insights I got from this remarkable work.
Belief in Change
One of the book’s key insights is that in order to change our habits, we have to truly believe that we can succeed. But belief is a fleeting state, which explains why by the middle of February most leaders have given up on their resolutions to change. Duhigg points us to research demonstrating that “for habits to permanently change, people must believe that change is feasible.” This revelation is followed with the bombshell: “Belief is easier when it occurs within a community.”
Peer Coaching
So, maybe what you should have resolved for the New Year was to join a peer-coaching group and in the context of a community of your peers, worked to establish new leadership habits. Even just one other person, like engaging a leadership coach, can make all the difference in breaking bad habits and starting new ones.
On this 9th day of February, I am feeling wonderful about my success with breaking my bad spending habits and starting a new habit of writing daily. I believe I can do it because my peer group believes I can.
