3 Keystone Habits For Conscious Leadership

Keystone habits are widely taught in business courses now as the small wins that can bring about deep systemic changes. They are the small changes or routines that trigger a cascade of other actions and behaviours. They are the habits that set the tone and direction for everything else. In this article, I will share three examples of keystone habits that conscious leaders often embrace:

1.    Prioritise learning over performance. This means setting learning goals instead of performance goals, seeking feedback instead of validation, embracing challenges instead of avoiding them, and celebrating effort instead of outcomes. This can foster a culture of curiosity, resilience, and innovation that indirectly leads to higher performance.

2.    Practice mindfulness over multitasking. Multitasking is often seen as a necessary skill or strategy to get more done in less time. However, research has shown that multitasking is actually counterproductive and harmful. A study by David Meyer, a cognitive scientist at the University of Michigan, found that multitasking can reduce productivity by up to 40%, impair memory and attention span, increase stress and anxiety, and lower creativity and satisfaction

Mindfulness, on the other hand, is the practice of paying attention to the present moment with openness and curiosity. Mindfulness can enhance productivity by improving focus and concentration, boost memory and cognitive function, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase creativity and happiness.

3.    Cultivate trust over control. This means communicating your vision and values clearly and consistently, delegating tasks and decisions to your team members and letting them own the outcomes, providing support and resources to your team members and helping them overcome obstacles, and giving recognition and appreciation to your team members and celebrating their successes. This can create a culture of autonomy, creativity, and collaboration.

By applying keystone habits to your organisation in a consistent way and in alignment with conscious leadership values, you will be amazed at how your employee enthusiasm and energy rises!