3 Leadership Secrets to Creating Routines That Last
Introduction – George
Welcome back to the Leadership Excellence Podcast. Today we explore one of the most important topics for a new year: how to make routines stick.
Statistic: 91% of New Year’s resolutions fail—most before February 1st.
This happens because people build routines without understanding the system behind how habits form. Leaders fail for the same reasons.
Top 5 Reasons People Fail to Keep Routines:
- No consistent trigger to start the routine
- Routines are too big, too vague, or unrealistic
- They rely on motivation instead of structure
- No immediate reward to reinforce the behavior
- They don’t anchor new routines to existing habits
Today, Tom and I will walk through 3 amazing secrets that help leaders build routines that become automatic, effortless, and truly transformational.
SECRET #1 — Purpose: Why Routines Exist (Tom)
- Routines shift effort from conscious thinking to autopilot
- Leaders need routines to conserve mental bandwidth
- Purpose fuels commitment when motivation fades
The first secret begins with understanding the purpose of a routine. A routine is more than repeated action; it is a neural pathway designed to move work from the prefrontal cortex, where everything requires effort, into the unconscious automatic system.
Leaders underestimate how much energy is spent on decisions that should be automated. Every time you debate priorities or wonder whether to review metrics, you burn precious bandwidth. Routines free you to think strategically rather than reactively.
A routine with no purpose will die quickly. When the routine supports identity—your clarity, leadership vision, or mission—it becomes far more durable. Purpose is emotional glue.
For example, a morning planning routine tied to “feeling organized” rarely lasts. But if the purpose is “to lead my team with clarity,” the routine becomes meaningful and resilient.
Purpose makes routines last. It shifts them from tasks to identity, from effort to automatic behavior—this is the foundation of leadership consistency.
SECRET #2 — The Habit Loop: Trigger, Routine, Reward (George)
- Every habit follows a neurological cycle
- Triggers and rewards are essential for wiring habits
- Routines fail when they’re too big or vague
Every habit in your life follows the same structure: trigger, routine, reward. Leaders fail when they misunderstand this cycle. If one part is missing, the habit collapses.
The trigger is the cue—your brain’s signal that it's time to act. Without a reliable trigger, routines simply drift away. Leaders often skip this step, hoping motivation will carry them. It never does.
The routine must be small enough to execute even on your busiest days. Leaders sabotage themselves by starting with 30‑minute routines instead of 2‑minute ones. The brain resists anything that feels heavy.
The reward is the emotional payoff—clarity, satisfaction, progress. Without it, the brain will not store the habit. Small wins reinforce the routine and create momentum.
This is why 91% of New Year’s routines fail—because the Habit Loop wasn’t designed with intention. But leaders who master this loop build habits that last for a lifetime.
SECRET #3 — Make Habits Stick: The Leader’s Advantage (Tom)
- Small habits win because they’re frictionless
- Anchor new routines to existing behaviors
- Consistency beats motivation every time
The third secret centers on consistency—the true advantage of leadership. Leaders who master habit formation do so not by force, but by structure. Simplicity always wins.
Anchoring is essential. Link the new habit to something you already do daily: morning coffee, arriving at the office, wrapping up the day. The existing behavior acts as an automatic trigger.
Small habits create momentum. Leaders often try to change too much at once. But the brain embraces what feels easy. A small win every day builds confidence and identity reinforcement.
The mantra “never miss twice” protects habits. Missing once is normal—missing twice breaks the chain. Leaders who recover quickly maintain long-term consistency.
Ultimately, habits stick when they align with identity and environment. Leaders succeed because their systems—not their motivation—carry them. Routines become who they are, not what they try to do.
Closing – Tom
As we close, remember this: motivation fades, but systems endure. When you design routines built on triggers, simplified behaviors, and meaningful rewards, they become unconscious. They become effortless. They become part of your leadership identity.
Choose one routine to build this week. Anchor it. Repeat it. Reinforce it. This is how leaders build excellence—one small, consistent action at a time.
Thank you for joining us today, and thank you, George, for guiding us through these insights. We’ll see you in the next episode. Keep leading with clarity and intention.
